Winegar takes key post at NRCC

As Senate Minority Leader Thomas Kean, Jr. mulls another run for Congress in New Jersey’s 7th district, his prospects could be boosted by the presence of two close advisors at the National Republican Congressional Committee.

Theresa Winegar, who was campaign manager for Kean’s near-win against Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-Ringoes) last year, is the new NRCC regional political director with control of GOP House races in the northeast.

Winegar joins Justin Richards, a longtime Kean staffer who has signed on for a second cycle as the NRCC national political director.

Richards and Winegar are positioned to make Kean a top NRCC priority if he chooses to run against Malinowski in 2022.

Kean announced on February 1 that he would not seek re-election to the State Senate this year, prompting speculation that he is close to making a final decision on another congressional bid.

Winegar served as executive director of the New Jersey Republican State Committee before signing on to run Kean’s House campaign.

She joined the state party in 2016 after serving as Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen’s district director.  Winegar was a top staffer in Mitt Romney’s 2012 presidential campaign and had been managing Doug Steinhardt’s bid for the Republican nomination for governor.

“Theresa is hands down the best political operative in the north east. Her exceptional political instincts and organizational abilities will help create pick up opportunities and lead Republicans back to a majority in Congress,” said Harrison Neely, a New Jersey Republican political consultant.  “The NRCC is offering the most talented and professional organization in the game. Democrats like Tom Malinowski should buckle up for a bumpy cycle.”

Richards started his political career as Kean’s driver on the 2006 U.S. Senate race.  He managed Kean’s 2007 State Senate re-election campaign and served as executive director of New Jersey Senate Republican Majority in 2011 and 2013.

The only announced candidate to challenge Malinowski is Rik Mehta, a former U.S. Food and Drug Administration official who ran for U.S. Senate against Cory Booker in 2020.