Buttigieg endorses Bennett in 7th district race

Former U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has endorsed Rebecca Bennett for Congress, giving the Democratic challenger to Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-Westfield) in New Jersey’s 7th district the support of a prominent national figure with an extensive fundraising network and likely presidential ambitions.

I am proud to endorse Rebecca because the people of New Jersey deserve a leader who will stand up for them,” he said.

Buttigieg, a U.S. Navy veteran and former Democratic presidential candidate, highlighted Bennett’s military service and her plans to address affordability and infrastructure in announcing his support for her campaign in one of the nation’s most politically competitive House races.

“Rebecca Bennett is guided by the ethic of service and doesn’t back down from a challenge—it’s why she flew the MH-60 Seahawk for the U.S. Navy and served in our armed forces for over 15 years,” Buttigieg said. “She will bring that same drive to Congress, working to build an economy where New Jerseyans can afford to raise a family, access the best health care in the world, and own their home.”

At this point in the cycle, Democrats endorsing Democratic nominees is not exactly earthshattering.  Bennett won her party’s nomination in June, and national Democrats have already made defeating Kean a priority in their effort to win control of the House.

The practical value of Buttigieg’s endorsement may depend on whether he helps raise money, introduces Bennett to donors, or visits the district to campaign on her behalf.

Bennett said his backing reflects their shared military service and their interest in transportation projects important to New Jersey.

“I am so honored to have former Secretary Pete Buttigieg’s endorsement in this race,” said Bennett.  “He knows what it means to put your life on the line to serve our country, and he knows how critical it is that we have leaders in Washington who are focused on making key investments in New Jersey’s infrastructure.”

A former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, Buttigieg won the most delegates at the Iowa Democratic Caucus when he ran for president in 2020 — and  Bernie Sanders carried the actual voting by 2,443 votes — and finished second in the New Hampshire primary; he lost by 3,930 votes.  After Joe Biden won South Carolina, the race became a two-man contest with Bernie Sanders; Buttigieg dropped out two days before Super Tuesday and endorsed Biden.

Buttigieg is already familiar with the district. He came to the 7th district in 2022 to stump for then-Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-Ringoes), who was seeking reelection against Kean.

Kean defeated Malinowski that November.

“I look forward to working together between now and November to flip NJ-07 so we can get to work fixing the most important issues we’re facing, like building the Gateway Tunnel and bringing one-seat ride to the Raritan Valley Line,” Bennett stated.

Buttigieg’s endorsement could also create an interesting political dilemma for Bennett if she defeats Kean and joins the House in January.

Buttigieg is widely viewed as a potential candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028.   U.S. Senator Cory Booker is also likely to pursue another White House bid, and there is considerable speculation that Gov. Mikie Sherrill could enter the race.

That could leave Bennett facing pressure to choose among a national figure who helped her congressional campaign, New Jersey’s senior senator, and the governor of her home state.  Booker and Sherrill are already for Bennett.

When Booker launched his presidential campaign in 2019, then-Gov. Phil Murphy, the entire Democratic House delegation, and all 21 Democratic county chairs supported him.

But Booker ended his campaign in January 2020, and New Jersey Democrats quickly went their separate ways.

Andy Kim, then a freshman congressman, endorsed Buttigieg, a close friend from their time together as Rhodes Scholars at Oxford.  Malinowski quickly backed Biden.  Sherrill and Josh Gottheimer endorsed former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg before shifting their support to Biden after Bloomberg dropped out.