Malinowski say negative ad is ‘disqualifying’ for Shah

Former Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-Ringoes) hasn’t endorsed anyone in the Democratic primary for the 7th district congressional seat he held from 2019 to 2023, but he made it clear today that he wasn’t backing Tina Shah.

Shah is on the air with the first attack ad of the primary, less than two weeks away, slamming Rebecca Bennett for being a Republican up until 2016 and accusing her of taking “thousands from ICE contractors to fund her campaign.”  The ad uses footage of ICE raids and protests.

“I’ve been neutral in this race in my old district, but Democratic primary candidates should make a positive case for themselves, not smear someone who could be the nominee,” Malinowski said.  “Falsely associating a fellow Democrat with ICE is shameful and disqualifying for Tina Shah.”

In addition to Bennett, a former U.S. Navy helicopter pilot, former Biden administration official Michael Roth, and entrepreneur and political organizer Brian Varela are also seeking a chance to take on two-term Rep. Thomas Kean, Jr. (R-Westfield).  Shah, an ICU physician, served in the Obama and Biden administrations.

New Jersey’s 7th district is considered one of the most competitive districts in the U.S. this year.

Bennett has an internal poll showing her with a 20-point lead in the Democratic race, with Shah, Varela, and Roth all within each other’s margins of error.  Shah released her own internal poll showing a much closer contest.

The New Jersey Globe reported today that a shadowy, dark money super PAC connected to Republicans is trying to influence the Democratic primary and push voters against Bennett.

“D.C. Republicans are terrified that I am going to win this race,” said Bennett, who called herself the Democrat they fear the most.  “They just started an ad campaign to smear my record, hoping it will be loud enough to drown out the truth.”

Malinowski flipped the seat in 2018, ousting five-term Rep. Leonard Lance (R-Clinton Township).  He held it by one percentage point against Kean, then the minority leader of the New Jersey State Senate, in 2020, and then lost a rematch to Kean by three points in 2022.

He passed up a chance for another shot at Kean this year, instead running for Mikie Sherrill’s vacant 11th district seat in the February 5 special Democratic primary and nearly winning.