U.S. House race · November 3, 2026
U.S. Representative, New Jersey District 7
Represents the district in the U.S. House of Representatives, which writes federal laws, approves the federal budget and taxes, and oversees the executive branch.
2-year term. The district covers all of Hunterdon and Warren counties and parts of Morris, Somerset, Sussex and Union counties in north-central New Jersey. Libertarian Lana Leguía was removed from the ballot by an appellate court ruling in July 2026, and independent Randall Terry withdrew in June 2026.
The candidates
Listed alphabetically by last name.
Rebecca Bennett
Health care executive; former U.S. Navy helicopter pilotRebecca Bennett is a former U.S. Navy helicopter pilot and test pilot, Air National Guard officer and health care executive who won the June 2026 Democratic primary with about 45% of the vote. Her campaign focuses on lowering costs for families, health care access and national security, and she describes herself as a moderate Democrat.
Tom Kean Jr.
U.S. Representative, New Jersey District 7 (since 2023)Tom Kean Jr. is a Westfield Republican seeking a third term in the U.S. House after more than two decades in the New Jersey Legislature, including 14 years as the state Senate's Republican leader. His campaign focuses on lowering the cost of living, health care, the expanded SALT deduction and what he describes as bringing both parties together.
Seamus Patrick O'Toole
Independent candidateSeamus Patrick O'Toole is an independent candidate appearing on the ballot under the slogan "Stop Israel's Genocide." No campaign website or detailed platform could be found.
Compare on the issues
Summaries of each candidate's stated positions. See each profile for sources and details.
| Issue | Rebecca Bennett Democratic | Tom Kean Jr. Republican | Seamus Patrick O'Toole Stop Israel's Genocide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy & Environment | Supports investing in renewable energy, keeping existing air and water pollution rules, removing forever chemicals and lead from drinking water, and upgrading the power grid. | Supports an "all-the-above" energy policy to boost domestic production, and introduced a bipartisan bill to study the Upper Raritan River for Wild and Scenic River designation. | No public position found yet |
| Health Care | Supports protecting coverage for people with pre-existing conditions, reversing what her campaign calls Republican cuts to Medicaid and Medicare, and expanding mental health services for children and young adults. | Says he supports coverage for people with pre-existing conditions, expanded telemedicine and an end to surprise billing, and introduced a bill he says would reduce Medicare premiums for seniors who pay income-related surcharges. | No public position found yet |
| Taxes | Supports fully restoring the SALT deduction so New Jersey taxpayers are "no longer double taxed," and supports paid family leave. | Supports restoring the full state and local tax (SALT) deduction and voted for the 2025 law that raised the cap to $40,000; says the cap amounts to double taxation of New Jerseyans. | No public position found yet |
| Abortion | Supports restoring abortion rights at the federal level. | No public position found yet | No public position found yet |
| Guns | Supports gun safety measures to keep firearms from people who shouldn't have them, says she would "get weapons of war off our streets," and supports reinstating the tax on silencers. | No public position found yet | No public position found yet |
| Housing | No public position found yet | Introduced bills to create a housing affordability tax credit and, with Rep. Greg Landsman (D-Ohio), to provide financial relief to renters. | No public position found yet |
| Immigration | No public position found yet | Says border security is national security and calls for permanently securing the border and enforcing the rule of law; says he supports protecting children brought to the country illegally through no fault of their own. | No public position found yet |