Former Navy helicopter pilot likely to remain Dem field’s fundraising leader
By Joey Fox, October 08 2025 8:30 am
Former U.S. Navy helicopter pilot Rebecca Bennett, one of the leading Democratic candidates to take on Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-Westfield) in New Jersey’s 7th congressional district, has raised a remarkable $1.35 million since launching her campaign after a $475,000 3rd quarter.
That will likely put Bennett’s fundraising ahead of her seven competitors for the Democratic nomination in the highly competitive district, though she’s also been in the race the longest. Bennett’s campaign said it had more than $900,000 on-hand at the end of September.
“It’s time we said enough is enough of putting the politics of Washington above what’s best for our residents right here in New Jersey,” Bennett said in a statement. “People are sick and tired of Tom Kean Jr. failing to deliver for his district, and I know we have the momentum and resources needed to send him packing next November.”
Though many in New Jersey politics are still primarily focused on this year’s races for governor and State Assembly, Bennett has been an impressively consistent fundraiser every quarter she’s been in the race; she raised $427,000 in Q1, $487,000 in Q2, and now $475,000 in Q3.
At least one other 7th district candidate also had a great 3rd quarter: physician Tina Shah, who raised more than $600,000 during her first three months in the race. That’s the largest single fundraising quarter, not including self-funding, that any 7th district candidate has accomplished thus far.
The field’s other six Democratic contenders have not yet released their Q3 reports. As of the last quarterly deadline in July, businessman Brian Varela had raised $694,000 ($400,000 of which was self-funded), former Small Business Administration official Michael Roth had raised $303,000, and former Summit Councilman Greg Vartan had raised $157,000; climate scientist Megan O’Rourke, attorney Vale Mendoza, and criminal justice professor Beth Adubato all entered the race during the most recent quarter and thus haven’t filed any reports yet.
Whoever ends up winning the nomination to challenge Kean is likely in for a very expensive race. The 7th district is located entirely in the extremely pricey New York City media market, and past races for the district have seen spending in the tens of millions; the $26.3 million price tag for the district’s 2024 contest made it the most expensive House race in New Jersey history.
Kean, for his part, has not yet released 3rd quarter fundraising numbers, but he’s raised $1.9 million since the start of the year.
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