Megan O’Rourke endorses Rebecca Bennett, her former NJ-7 rival

Nearly a month after ending her own campaign for New Jersey’s 7th congressional district, Megan O’Rourke is endorsing one of her former Democratic primary rivals, Rebecca Bennett.

O’Rourke, a climate scientist and Warren County native who previously worked at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, said that Bennett gives Democrats their strongest shot of unseating Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-Westfield), a top Democratic target this year.

“I have spoken and met with the remaining CD07 candidates and have taken time to reflect on this decision,” O’Rourke said in a statement. “I think Rebecca Bennett has the strongest team supporting her and the best chance to beat Tom Kean Jr. in the general election.”

O’Rourke made a splash when she entered the 7th district race last summer, raising quite a bit of money and earning endorsements from ex-Rep. Rush Holt (D-Hopewell) and the Warren County Democrats. She was not considered one of the favorites for the nomination, however, and on the day of the filing deadline, she abruptly announced that she would exit the race.

She isn’t the first former 7th district candidate to back Bennett, a former Navy helicopter pilot. When Somerset County Commissioner Sara Sooy (D-Bedminster) suspended her short-lived 7th district campaign in January, she immediately endorsed Bennett for the job instead, saying that it was better for Democrats to unite behind one candidate rather than continue fighting amongst themselves.

Former Summit Councilman Greg Vartan, who dropped out of the race in December, has made his preference for Bennett clear, too, though not in as public of a fashion. Vartan is the Democratic municipal chairman in Summit, and when Union County Democrats conducted their closed-door endorsement process in March, Vartan cast his vote for Bennett.

Three other Democrats are still seeking the nomination in the 7th district: Brian Varela, Michael Roth, and Tina Shah. Every candidate in the race has raised more than $1 million and is running a serious campaign, though Bennett has been the most prolific fundraiser thus far and is the preferred choice of most of the district’s Democratic establishment.