NJ Republicans Float 2028 CD-7 Plan as Tom Kean Jr. Misses 100-Plus House Votes
Updated
Updated · InsiderNJ · Jun 12
NJ Republicans Float 2028 CD-7 Plan as Tom Kean Jr. Misses 100-Plus House Votes
1 articles · Updated · InsiderNJ · Jun 12
Summary
A Republican insider urged the GOP to treat New Jersey’s 7th District as a likely 2026 loss and recruit a placeholder candidate for a 2028 comeback if Rep. Tom Kean Jr. does not run.
100-plus missed House votes by Kean, coupled with no visible campaign despite aides saying he will seek reelection, have fueled party anxiety as time to field a replacement shrinks.
Rebecca Bennett is seen by the source as too strong to beat this year, so the pitch to possible stand-ins is to build name recognition now and return in 2028 in a district with about 20,000 more registered Republicans.
Names circulating include Erik Peterson, Rosemarie Becchi, Michele Matsikoudis, Aura Dunn, Doug Steinhardt, James Kern and Leonard Lance, with Republicans aiming to settle on someone by late summer.
The strategy hinges on Democrats nominating or being tied to a more left-wing national figure by 2028, while Trump’s drag on moderate New Jersey Republicans is expected to fade.