Malinowski outspent Kean nearly 2-1 in election’s last days

Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-Ringoes) outspent State Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean (R-Westfield) nearly two-to-one in the final weeks of the race for the seventh district’s congressional seat, according to campaign finance reports filed with the Federal Election Commission.

Between Oct. 15 and Nov. 23, Malinowski spent just shy of $1.7 million. The incumbent, who defeated Kean after weeks of ballot counting, raised a little more than $1 million over that period, bringing his total fundraising for the cycle to about $7.4 million.

He finished the reporting period with just $89,658.19 banked after spending almost $7.5 million.

Kean, meanwhile, spent $905,594 in the last weeks of the race. His total spending for the cycle is a little under $3.7 million.

His fundraising also lagged behind that of the incumbent. Between Oct. 15 and Nov. 23, Kean raised $395,388. His total fundraising for the cycle was about $3.9 million.

The Republican finished the race with more cash banked, $129,356, than his opponent. Those funds still aren’t much, but they could help Kean if he chooses to run for the seat again in 2022.