Former New Jersey governor stumps for his son in new ad
former Republican governor Tom Kean Sr.of New Jersey is actively campaigning to support his son, Tom Kean Jr., a Republican running in New Jersey’s competitive 7th Congressional District against Democratic challenger Rebecca Bennett.Kean jr.,who briefly took a leave from Congress due to depression,has returned to campaigning vigorously,including appearances with House Speaker Mike Johnson and releasing a campaign video featuring his father. Kean Sr., a highly popular governor in New Jersey history, remains well-regarded, and polls show he is remembered favorably. Kean Jr. has secured his seat in Congress in recent elections, flipping the district from democratic to Republican, even though the district tends to lean democratic in gubernatorial races. The 2024 race is rated as a toss-up, with Kean Jr. emphasizing his record on lowering costs and improving healthcare, while Bennett focuses on affordability, gun control, and veteran issues. Kean Jr. benefits from national Republican support and his father’s popularity as he campaigns to defend his seat.
Former Republican New Jersey Gov. Tom Kean Sr. is hitting the airwaves to stump for his son, Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-NJ), as he faces Democratic challenger Rebecca Bennett in the race for the state’s toss-up 7th Congressional District.
Kean Jr., who took a prolonged absence from the House floor this spring as he battled depression, is running to defend his seat in one of the most competitive House seats in the country. After returning to the lower chamber, Kean Jr. has hit the campaign trail running, pulling out all the stops, such as stumping with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and releasing his latest video advertisement with his popular former-governor father.
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“You watch your children grow and wonder, ‘Who will they become?’ I couldn’t be prouder of my son Tom,” Kean Sr. said in the 30-second ad. “He cares about people. That’s why he worked to protect Medicare and Medicaid for every New Jersey senior, child, and disabled person. He’s never going to stop fighting, advocating, and serving those in need. That’s what drives him, makes him a leader we can all be proud of.”
Two-term Kean Sr., who served as governor from 1982 to 1990, is one of the most popular governors in Garden State history. A 2024 poll from Fairleigh Dickinson University named the Republican as the “Best Remembered Governor,” with pollster Dan Cassino saying Kean Sr. was “popular when he was in office, and remains popular now.” Though his initial election was a razor-thin margin, Kean Sr. won his 1985 reelection as an incumbent by over 40 points.
Kean Jr., who has served two terms in the House since 2023, defeated his reelection challenger, Democrat Susan Altman, in 2024 by a 5.4-point margin. In 2022, Kean Jr. flipped New Jersey’s 7th District from blue to red, defeating former Democratic Rep. Tom Malinowski by a 2.8-point margin.
Despite Kean Jr.’s two-time win in the North Jersey district, Gov. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) carried the district by a 2-point margin in her 2025 gubernatorial race against Republican Jack Ciattarelli. President Donald Trump did, however, win the district in the 2024 presidential election.
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Cook Political Report lists the race as a toss-up, and following his monthslong absence from the House chamber, Kean Jr. is leaning into his father’s popularity with the new ad, while also tapping into national support from Republican leaders like Johnson.
Trump-endorsed Kean Jr. has been running on his record of lowering costs and delivering healthcare and infrastructure development for New Jerseyans. Bennett, a Navy helicopter pilot, is running on the Democratic affordability platform frequently seen throughout 2026, while also touting priorities such as gun control reform and veteran advocacy.
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