Kean, Bennett take their 7th District campaign to the airwaves in final weeks

Rep, Tom Kean Jr. and Democratic challenger Rebecca Bennett blanketed the airwaves in the first two weeks of October as both candidates in New Jersey’s most competitive House race made their latest pleas to voters,

Kean (R-Westfield) reported spending $1.1 million on media from Oct. 1 to Oct. 14, an average of more than $78,500 a day. Bennett, a former Navy pilot, was close behind, spending $897,789, averaging more than $64,000 daily. For the final three weeks of the campaign, Kean reported having $1.4 million to spend while Bennett had $1.1 million.

In the final Federal Election Commission reports before the Nov. 3 general election, Bennett brought in more than twice as much money as Kean, $563,587 to $260,954. Overall, Bennett brought in $8.8 million to $6.2 million for Kean. Bennett is rated as a slight favorite to oust the two-term GOP incumbent.

In the 2nd District, Rep, Jeff Van Drew (R-Dennis) raised $2.3 million while Cape May Mayor Zack Mullock raised $850,948 plus lent his campaign $110,000, Mullock’s latest donors included former Gov. Phil Murphy and his wife Tammy, both of whom gave the maximum $3,500.

Even as Mullock raised $136,862 to Van Drew’s $79,132 during the first two weeks of October, the Republican incumbent entered the final three weeks of the campaign in a stronger financial position with $894,792 in the bank to Mullock’s $105,400.

Here’s the total of what the other major-party candidates in the 10 other New Jersey House districts raised for their campaigns through Oct. 14:

1st District. Rep. Donald Norcross (D-Camden), $2 million, campaign committee balance of $2.4 million.  Damo Galdo (R), $16,119 plus $100 loan, balance of $772.

3rd District. Rep. Herb Conaway (D-Delanco), $1.2 million, balance of $436,316. Michael McGuire (R), $200,324 plus loans of $21,000, balance of $16,575.

4th District. Rep. Chris Smith (R-Manchester), $797,216, balance of $553,017. Rachel Peace (D), $94,714 plus loans of $6,711, balance of $9,435.

5th District. Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-Tenafly), $5.8 million, balance of $13.5 million. Sean Kirrane (R), $47,419 plus loans of $51,217, balance of $195.

6th District. Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-Long Branch), $2.8 million, balance of $3.1 million. . Hillary Herzig (R), $9,124 plus loans of $2,641, balance of $614.

8th District. Rep. Rob Menendez (D-Jersey City), $2.2 million, balance of $722,399.  There is no Republican nominee.

9th District. Rep. Nellie Pou (D-North Haledon), $3.1 million, balance of $1.1 million. Clifton Council member Rosemary Pino (R), $526,367, balance of $13,132

10th District. Rep. Lamonica McIver (D-Newark), $2.5 million, balance of $897,195.  Carmen Bucco (R), $8,931, balance of $2,292.

11th District. Rep. Analilia Mejia (D-Glen Ridge), $2.2 million, balance of $115,467. Joe Hathaway (R), $837,601, balance of $42,173.

12th District. Adam Hamawy (D), $2 million, balance of $239,845.  Gregg Mele (R), $47,774 plus personal loans of $53,746, balance of $13,365.