Rebecca Bennett
Who: Rebecca Bennett
Where: NJ-07
Why: Of the 13 sources I rely on to track House races, 11 rate NJ-07 as a toss-up, which gives Rebecca Bennett the distinction of ranking at the top of the 80 House contests I’m tracking this election cycle. Democrats currently hold 212 seats in the House; assuming all 435 seats are occupied, they’ll need 218 to gain control of the chamber.
Bennett is also one of at least eight female military veterans who are running as Democrats in competitive House races this year.* She was a Naval helicopter pilot and aircraft commander, and earned an MBA at Wharton on the G.I. Bill. She then worked at a number of healthcare companies focusing on making care more accessible for women and other underserved populations. Despite having piloted the MH-60S Seahawk helicopter earlier in her career, she gets around northwestern New Jersey in a 2010 Honda Accord.
To turn NJ-07 from red to blue, this mother of two must unseat incumbent Republican Tom Kean. The in-depth policy one-pagers on Bennett’s campaign website tell you precisely what you need to know about her ideas for lowering energy, childcare and housing costs (“Stop algorithmic price fixing in the rental market”). Kean’s absence from the House floor and the campaign trail for four months left voters wondering not just where he stands but where he was. (He later shared that he had been seeking treatment for depression.)
Prior to missing more than 140 roll call votes, Kean had voted with the Republicans in the House 100% of the time. One of his first votes upon his return was against the House resolution to end U.S. military action in Iran.
*Others are Cait Conley (NY-17), Jessica Killin (CO-05), Nancy Lacore (SC-01), Eileen Laubacher (CO-04), Elaine Luria (VA-02) JoAnna Mendoza (AZ-06) and Maura Sullivan (NH-01).
Sources: Ballotpedia, NJ Spotlight News
At-a-Glance: November 2026 DITB candidate roster to date
U.S. House of RepresentativesCait Conley | NY-17 | Read | Donate
Jamie Ager | NC-11 | Read | Donate
Paige Cognetti | PA-08 | Read | Donate
JoAnna Mendoza | AZ-06 | Read | Donate
Sarah Trone Garriott | IA-03 | Read | DonateState Offices
Cisco Aguilar | Nevada Secretary of State | Read | Donate
Anita Earls | N.C. Supreme Court | Read | Donate