Democrat Rebecca Bennett outraised Rep. Tom Kean, Jr. (R-Westfield) by a 4-1 margin in the third quarter and has raised $2 million more than the two-term Republican incumbent in the hotly contested race for Congress in New Jersey’s 7th district.
Kean, a two-term GOP congressman, raised $974,000 over the last three months and added $25,000 to his victory committee.
But Kean has nearly $2.9 million cash-on-hand, substantially more than Bennett.
Bennett, a former U.S. Navy helicopter pilot, has raised more than $8 million to unseat Kean in one of the nation’s most competitive House districts, compared with about $6 million for the Republican incumbent.
The $2 million fundraising advantage comes as Kean faces the loss of millions in outside spending from two major Republican super PACs that helped him dominate television advertising for much of the campaign.
The Congressional Leadership Fund, which is aligned with House Speaker Mike Johnson, and President Donald Trump’s Affordability and Safety PAC are withdrawing their remaining advertising investments in the district and shifting resources to other competitive House races, according to a New York Times report.
That leaves the National Republican Congressional Committee as Kean’s principal source of national Republican support.
Kean’s fundraising improved considerably from the second quarter, when a month-long hospitalization for depression interrupted his campaign activities. He raised $519,142 during that period, compared to $1.6 million for Bennett.
But Bennett has continued to widen her fundraising advantage, bringing in more than $4 million in July, August, and September, more than double her second-quarter haul.
Bennett reported $1.6 million in cash on hand as of September 30.
Despite Bennett’s fundraising success, Kean has benefited from a substantial television advertising advantage, fueled by Republican outside groups that have significantly outspent Democrats over the last six months.
“I am deeply grateful for the incredible surge of support coming in from every corner of New Jersey and across the nation,” said Kean. “As we head into the final stretch, this support ensures our message reaches every household in the 7th District – a message centered on lowering prices for working families, protecting healthcare, and strengthening our communities. We are going to sprint through the finish line as the clear common sense choice for New Jersey.”
The district is also one of the nation’s most expensive places to run a congressional campaign because of its proximity to the New York City television market.
Kean’s 2024 re-election campaign against Democrat Sue Altman generated $26.3 million in total spending, making it the most expensive House race in New Jersey history.
Trump won NJ-7 by one percentage point in 2024, and Gov. Mikie Sherrill carried it by two points last year.