Healey added to NRCC ‘Young Guns’ list

The National Republican Campaign Committee (NRCC) today added Bob Healey Jr., the Republican nominee for New Jersey’s 3rd congressional district, to their Young Guns program for top-tier candidates.

“These impressive leaders have proven they have what it takes to run the most effective and efficient campaigns,” House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) said in a statement about 14 different Young Gun candidates. “Each ‘Young Gun’ will play a critical role in our pursuit to win back the House majority and I thank them for their hard work and commitment to victory.”

Healey’s addition to the program is a sign that national Republicans intend to make a serious play against Rep. Andy Kim (D-Moorestown), whose district was made significantly more Democratic under the new congressional map and who remains a favorite for re-election.

National Democrats are already going on the offensive, highlighting a recent Politico NJ article about a super PAC boosting Healey that received $2 million from Healey’s mother. As the general election draws closer, Kim and Democrats are sure to continue drawing attention to Healey’s wealthy background, which comes from the yacht manufacturing company his father founded and Healey now runs.

“At a time when families are struggling to pay bills, Bob Healey Jr. and his mom are throwing around millions of dollars to buy this seat,” Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesperson James Singer said in a statement. “Healey and his family are making clear they want to push policies in Congress that will benefit his family and his stock portfolio over the needs of New Jersey working families.”

Healey had previously been on the NRCC’s On the Radar list, a lower-tier list of promising candidates in potentially competitive districts. His victory over Atilis Gym owner Ian Smith in last week’s primary, however, was evidently enough to get the NRCC to promote him to the Young Guns list, where he joins former Senate Minority Leader and 7th district nominee Tom Kean Jr. (R-Westfield).

5th district candidate Nick De Gregorio had been listed as an On the Radar candidate as well, but he lost last week to Frank Pallotta. It’s not yet clear whether national Republicans intend to assist Pallotta, given that he wasn’t their initial choice for the district and that Democrats consider him a weak general election candidate.