SOMERVILLE, NJ — Last night, Rebecca Bennett and Tom Kean Jr. faced off in the one and only debate of the campaign. While Rebecca laid out her vision for lowering costs and rooting corruption out of Washington, Tom Kean Jr. doubled down on his support for Trump’s tariffs and even gave a thumbs up to the war in Iran.
“Last night, Rebecca spoke directly to voters about her vision for the future of our country, and laid out her plans to lower costs, get corruption out of Washington, and put country over party. Meanwhile, Tom Kean Jr. stood on stage cheering on Trump’s tariff policies and his war with Iran that are making costs soar for New Jerseyans while failing to answer for his stock portfolio,” said Carly Jones, Communications Director, Rebecca Bennett for Congress.
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New York Times: Tom Kean Jr. Backs Trump on Iran and Tariffs, if Not Local Issues
- On key issues such as the war in Iran and the president’s tariffs, however, he maintained strong support for Mr. Trump’s policies. “The president is justifiably using that to reduce costs for consumers,” Mr. Kean said of the tariffs.
- Ms. Bennett, 39, focused on Mr. Kean’s support for Mr. Trump’s policies, including his vote to slash Medicaid funding, as she worked to present him as out of touch with his constituents’ concerns.
- She repeatedly mentioned his active stock portfolio and the trades he signed off on while absent from Congress, as well as the fact that he had not put his assets in a blind trust when he entered Congress, as he had promised to do.
- After the debate, the challenger lingered to take questions from reporters. Ms. Bennett said that if Mr. Kean opposes Mr. Trump’s efforts to block funding for the Hudson River tunnel, which is known as Gateway, he hasn’t been effective.
- Minutes after the debate ended, Mr. Kean quickly exited through a side back door, flanked by family members and aides. He ignored a question about his differences with Mr. Trump as he climbed into a silver S.U.V. that was waiting for him near the exit.
PBS: New Jersey Republican Tom Kean Jr. and Democrat Rebecca Bennett clash in debate
- Kean latched himself to Trump’s divisive record, defending Trump’s signature protectionist economic policies that have roiled global trade and backing Trump’s decision to launch attacks on Iran.
- Bennett, a Navy veteran, sought to tap into public discontent over rising prices, and urged an end to the war and called on Congress to rein in Trump’s use of tariffs on imports.
- Kean, who has voted against resolutions aimed at halting military action in Iran, defended the war.
- Bennett, a Navy veteran, called for an end to the conflict.
- On tariffs, Kean said they were the president’s prerogative. Bennett said Congress should step in.
Politico: Tom Kean Jr. defends his handling of medical absence in key House debate
- The two-term Republican, who is endorsed by the president, said for the first time that he opposes the construction of a new immigration detention facility in his district, a project backed by the Trump administration.
- “This is the first time we have heard Congressman Tom Kean Jr. actually be explicit about his position on the detention facility in Roxbury,” Bennett said. “I have been clear about this for over a year.”
- But Kean defended the One Big Beautiful Bill Act — the signature Trump policy that Bennett argues gives the wealthy a tax break at the expense of Medicaid — as legislation that “jump-started the economy and focused on affordability.” Trump’s tariffs, Kean said, are being implemented “appropriately.”
- And with voters increasingly pessimistic about the Trump-initiated war in Iran, Kean pushed for staying the course.
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