In only NJ-7 debate, Kean and Altman accuse each other of extremism

In the first and only debate in New Jersey’s competitive 7th congressional district, Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-Westfield) and challenger Sue Altman each worked to pry away votes by tying their opponent to the extreme flanks of their respective parties.

Kean, who is looking to win a second term in Congress, attacked Altman’s “extreme” positions on abortion, government spending, and immigration policy. Altman, meanwhile, said Kean’s membership of the Republican Party undermines his pro-choice goals and results in an ineffectual Congress.

The New Jersey Globe, On New Jersey, and the Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics at Rider University sponsored Sunday night’s 90-minute debate. On New Jersey’s Laura Jones moderated the virtual debate, and panelists included the New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein and Joey Fox and the Rebovich Institute’s Micah Rasmussen.

In his opening statement, Kean shared a story of helping a disabled veteran find permanent housing and working to find common ground on policy in Congress, before then attacking Altman’s progressive background.

“My opponent, on the other hand, since 2019 has been paid to be a political activist who supports progressive causes and will never stand up to the far left wing of her own party,” the congressman said in his opening statement.

Altman introduced herself to voters as a former professional basketball player, teacher, and anti-corruption activist in Trenton. The Democrat, who once led the New Jersey Working Families Party, framed her candidacy around “political courage” and said Kean would yield to donors and not protect reproductive rights.

“Tom Kean Jr. has an unsolvable problem,” Altman said in her opening statement. “The values of his voters and the values of his donors are not the same. His donors, the national Republican Party and extremist billionaires, represent an insane point of view.”

The candidates, aiming to take a moderate lane in a competitive district, agreed on many subjects. Rather, much of the debate was over how to achieve certain goals or whether the other is capable of accomplishing such feats.

Both candidates, for example, emphasized their desire to end the cap on SALT deductions. The pair also pledged to support Ukraine and Israel if they were to join Congress, and also highlighted their support for unions and organized labor in the state.

A major contrast arrived in immigration, though.

Kean’s rhetoric skewed closely to former President Donald Trump’s positions on immigration policy.

“We need to we need to build the wall,” the Republican said. “We need to have more Border Patrol agents.”

When asked about mass deportations that Trump has called for, Kean spoke about strengthening the border but didn’t say whether he supported such a deportation policy.

Altman, who opposes mass deportations, pressed Kean on the question again.

“Congressman, you just dodged the question,” Altman said. “Mr. Rasmussen asked you a very specific question. Would you support deporting migrants? Yes or no?”

Kean sat silent for nearly 10 seconds. Altman, referencing frustration from some journalists of Kean’s relatively fewer interactions with the media, said, “Now I know how the reporters feel.”

The congressman said he has a policy of not conducting impromptu interviews and said he reaches voters at senior and veterans town halls. Kean also pointed to interviews he’s conducted with the Star-Ledger and Bergen Record.

In his closing remarks, Kean said he is an independent leader capable of finding common ground in Congress. The Republican also accused Altman of moderating her positions solely for the election.

“I joined the Problem Solvers Caucus. I fought to keep the government open. I fought to secure the southern border. I’ve had the backs of cops. I stood up to support Ukraine and Israel and Taiwan,” Kean said in his closing statement. “My entire focus has been to make sure that we find those solutions that keep America strong and energy-independent.”

Altman, in her closing statement, tied Kean to Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson, saying he hasn’t “stood up to the most extremist elements of [his] party.”

“I’m not going to be accountable to some political party or corporate donors, because I don’t take a cent in corporate PAC money,” Altman said. “I will be accountable to the people of New Jersey 7, because it is the taxpayers who we work for, and it is the taxpayers and citizens of this district that you’ve ignored for too long.”

The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter rates NJ-07 as lean Republican. The 7th district is the only competitive race in New Jersey, according to the Cook Political Report.

The New Jersey Globe will host a debate for New Jersey’s 9th congressional district between state Sen. Nellie Pou (D-North Haledon) and Republican Billy Prempeh on Wednesday at 8 p.m.