Democratic Rebecca Bennett, a former U.S. Navy helicopter pilot challenging Rep. Tom Kean, Jr. (R-Westfield) in New Jersey’s 7th district, is calling for a comprehensive national regulatory framework for artificial intelligence, arguing that the federal government should set uniform rules rather than letting states develop separate approaches.
Bennett pointed to state efforts to regulate social media as an example of the challenges created by differing laws, saying artificial intelligence presents an even greater national concern.
“We need meaningful federal legislation and look at where we are right now with social media, and AI is magnitudes more important for the country,” Bennett said.
Artificial intelligence has become an increasingly prominent issue in Washington and on the campaign trail, including in Bennett’s own race.
In May, an independent expenditure group opposing her Democratic nomination sent a mailer featuring what appeared to be a doctored or AI-generated image of Bennett standing alongside ICE officers. Bennett criticized the image, saying the AI-generated version of herself did not look like her.
Bennett said regulation should come from the federal government rather than a patchwork of state laws.
“We need to have a 50-state regulatory framework,” Bennett said, appearing to refer to a uniform national standard rather than separate state regulations.
“Having a state-by-state patchwork longer term is not going to be helpful for the country,” she said.
Kean, a two-term Republican, introduced the AI Labeling Act of 2023, which would require AI-generated content to be clearly labeled and establish a working group to recommend nationwide standards for AI use.
Kean’s legislation followed concerns raised by a Westfield High School student about students allegedly using artificial intelligence to create fake explicit images of female classmates.
The 7th is one of the most competitive House districts in the U.S. President Donald Trump carried the district by roughly one percentage point in 2024, while Gov. Mikie Sherrill carried it by about two points in her 2025 gubernatorial victory.