Republican Rep. Thomas Kean Jr held on to his seat in New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District, the AP reported, defeating Democratic challenger Sue Altman and handing a setback to her party’s chances of gaining control of the House.
The race was considered the closest contest in New Jersey, and one of a handful of swing districts in the New York City suburbs that could determine control of the House of Representatives. The district covers most of the rural northwest section of the state and wealthy parts of Central Jersey, with a portion stretching east to the edge of Staten Island.
Kean declared victory in a speech to supporters late Tuesday night in which he called on the federal government to slash spending, allow fewer immigrants into the country and to continue supporting Israel and Ukraine.
“Tonight is a milestone, but our work together is just beginning,” he said.
Kean ousted incumbent Rep. Tom Malinowksi in 2022, after Malinowski had defeated him two years earlier. Republicans outnumber Democrats in the district by less than 20,000, one of the slimmest divides in the state. The district was redrawn in 2022.
Both candidates raised more than $5.5 million, with SuperPACs pumping millions more into television ads and other outreach campaigns in the final days before the election.
Kean, the son of former Republican New Jersey Gov. Tom Kean Sr., has regularly refused to speak with the media or participate in town hall meetings with constituents. He has described himself as a moderate who supports abortion protections, but has said he approved the U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down Roe v. Wade. He has endorsed former President Donald Trump.
Altman, a former teacher and pro basketball player, led the progressive New Jersey Working Families Alliance from 2019 to 2023.
She championed women’s reproductive rights throughout her campaign and sought to frame Kean as a far-right Republican out-of-touch with residents in the moderate district.
“We mounted an incredible challenge in this race, one that we should be deeply proud of,” Altman said in a speech at her election night party, according to NJ.com.
Altman then highlighted another victory, this time by Democrats:
“We have turned a page in New Jersey because it’s not business as usual anymore, we elected Andy Kim tonight.”
Kim won the state’s open Senate seat, previously held by Bob Menendez. Menendez left office after his conviction on federal bribery charges earlier this year.
Kim, a three-term member of Congress, is the first person of Korean descent elected to the Senate.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
