Tom Kean Jr. strode through election night HQ in Basking Ridge and caught the crowd by surprise, claiming a de facto victory in the redrawn 7th Congressional District, after a grueling rematch with Democrat Tom Malinowski, the incumbent. Kean told supporters, “We are on a really great trajectory and I believe, I’m confident, we’re going to win this thing tonight because of your help, your vote! I would like to thank Tom Malinowski for his years of public service and a spirited campaign.”
Malinowski conceded the race late Wednesday morning. Malinowski led the vote count early on. But Kean was ahead of the two-term incumbent by at least 13,000 votes as of Wednesday afternoon. Ballots are still being tallied.
