Democratic congressional candidate Sue Altman has launched a new campaign video highlighting her readiness to take on political leaders of both parties in her bid to unseat freshman Rep. Tom Kean, Jr. (R-Westfield) in New Jersey’s 7th district, one of the most competitive House races in the nation.
Altman’s video, “The Corruption Crew,” seeks to link Kean to former President Donald Trump and former Gov. Chris Christie, both Republicans, mentioning Trump’s felony convictions and Christie’s role in the Bridgegate scandal. Kean is referred to as a “Trump apologist.”
And it also mentions two Democrats with no ties to Kean: indicted U.S. Senator Bob Menendez – Kean ran against him in 2006 – and South Jersey Democratic leader George E. Norcross III.
As state director of New Jersey Working Families, Altman was a vocal critic of Norcross; before that, she took on Christie at a Town Hall meeting to advocate for public school teachers and oppose funding cuts for public schools. The video mentions Altman’s Hunterdon County roots, her basketball career, and her political activism.
The video, which is being released with no budget behind it, uses photos of New Jersey State Police removing Altman from a State Senate committee hearing – “Yep, that’s me,” she says – and features Altman speaking direct-to-camera about “a track record of fighting corruption on both sides of the aisle.” (Kean defended Altman after the Senate removal incident.)
Script: “(Announcer) This is the New Jersey Corruption Crew: the cheats and bullies willing to do anything to get what they want. First up, the Bridgegate bully, Chris Christie. Next, facing sixteen felony counts, Gold Bar Bob Menendez. Then our own absentee congressman, Trump apologist Tom Kean, Jr. And the captain of the crew, a convicted felon, Donald J. Trump. On our side: Sue Altman. Sue grew up in Clinton, played college and pro basketball, worked as an advocate to protect New Jersey’s school funding, and personally took on corruption in New Jersey politics. (Altman) I’m Sue Altman. I have a track record of fighting corruption on both sides of the aisle. I stood up to Chris Christie when he wanted to slash education funding. I was even escorted out of the statehouse for standing up to corrupt Democratic Party bosses. Yep. That’s me. And that’s George Norcross. And the guy’s getting rich off $1 billion in corporate giveaways at the expense of New Jersey taxpayers. When it comes to fighting corruption, it doesn’t matter what party they’re in, because I’m not on their team, I’m on yours.”
The campaign video follows Altman’s announcement that she raised $1.65 million during the second quarter of 2024 after raising more than $3 million so far. Kean has reported raising $3.6 million through May 15, with more than $2.5 million banked. He has not yet reported his full second-quarter fundraising haul.