Most New Jersey politicians are staying out of the packed Democratic primary for the state’s 7th congressional district for now – but one New York congressman isn’t waiting on the sidelines.
Rep. Pat Ryan (D-New York), whose Hudson Valley district borders Passaic and Sussex Counties, announced today that he’s supporting Rebecca Bennett, a former Navy helicopter pilot and one of eight Democrats running for the swingy 7th district.
“I know what it takes to win in a tough congressional district, and Rebecca has it,” Ryan, who first got to Congress in a much-publicized 2022 special election, said in a statement. “Her servant leadership and genuine understanding of the challenges families are facing is the type of leadership our country needs right now. Together, we’ll help Democrats flip the House in 2026.”
Like Bennett, Ryan is a military veteran, having served as a U.S. Army intelligence officer in Iraq. Since she launched her campaign in February, Bennett has drawn endorsements from a number of different veteran-focused groups, including VoteVets, the main Democratic organization supporting veterans who run for office; New Politics, a newer group dedicated to backing those who served in the military or other “mission-driven organizations”; and Serve America, a PAC affiliated with Massachusetts Rep. (and Marine Corps veteran) Seth Moulton.
Any and all endorsements will likely help in the primary to take down Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-Westfield), who represents one of the country’s most closely divided districts. Among the other Democrats running for the nomination are businessman Brian Varela, former Small Business Administration official Michael Roth, criminal justice professor Beth Adubato, climate scientist Megan O’Rourke, former Summit Councilman Greg Vartan, attorney Vale Mendoza, and physician Tina Shah.
Shah, like Bennett, has some out-of-state congressional support; over the summer, she received an endorsement from Rep. Sharice Davids (D-Kansas), with whom she was a White House fellow in the Obama administration.
