New Jersey’s most competitive congressional race is now critical to the national fight for power in Congress. The rematch between incumbent Democratic Rep. Tom Malinowski and former Republican state Sen. Tom Kean Jr. in the 7th District is considered a bellwether for the U.S. House of Representatives. Donors and political groups are paying attention.
According to the latest campaign finance numbers, at $40 million, Democrats are far outraising Republicans in New Jersey, who’ve put up $15 million. In the 7th district, Malinowski raised twice as much as Kean with nearly $8.5 million in his war chest, with another infusion reportedly on its way from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
After the district was redrawn to include more Republican-leaning towns, changing the voter demographic to favor Kean, Malinowski was left to defend his seat as the apparent sacrificial lamb of the Democratic Party who saw no inroads for a win.
But canvassers from progressive groups were making one last pitch this weekend, knocking on thousands of doors in the district. The state’s Democratic heavy-hitters also came out to support the Malinowski campaign, hosting a rally in Rahway — one of the towns newly added to the redrawn district and key to the race as a Democratic stronghold. Gov. Phil Murphy, U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, along with other federal, state and local lawmakers did their part to rev up the crowd, encouraging residents to get out and vote.
