The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) has expressed interest in winning the congressional seat currently held by Republican Tom Kean Jr. in New Jersey’s 7th district. The DCCC is the official campaign arm of the Democrats in the House of Representatives, and their interest in this race is a sign of the party’s determination to flip the House in the 2022 midterm elections.
The 7th district, which covers parts of Essex, Morris, Somerset, Union, and Warren counties, has been a Republican stronghold for many years. However, recent demographic changes and the unpopularity of former President Donald Trump have made it a more competitive district for Democrats. In the 2020 presidential election, Joe Biden won the district by a slim margin of 1.3%, and Democratic Senator Cory Booker won it by a larger margin of 6.5%.
Tom Kean Jr., who has represented the district since 2017, is a moderate Republican who has tried to distance himself from Trump and his more extreme policies. However, he still voted against impeaching Trump in both 2019 and 2021, which could make him vulnerable to attacks from Democrats who want to tie him to the former president.
The DCCC has not yet endorsed any candidates in the race, but several Democrats have already announced their intention to run. These include Tom Malinowski, who held the seat from 2019 to 2021 before losing to Kean in last year’s election, and Arati Kreibich, a progressive who challenged longtime Democratic incumbent Bill Pascrell in the neighboring 9th district last year.
Malinowski is seen as the frontrunner in the race, thanks to his name recognition and fundraising prowess. He raised over $5 million for his 2020 campaign, and he has already raised over $1 million for this race. However, Kreibich could pose a challenge to him from the left, as she has been endorsed by several progressive groups and has been critical of Malinowski’s moderate record on issues like healthcare and climate change.
Whoever wins the Democratic primary will face a tough general election against Kean, who is a skilled campaigner with a well-known name in New Jersey politics. However, the DCCC’s interest in the race is a sign that they believe it is winnable, and they will likely pour resources into the district to help the Democratic nominee.
If Democrats are able to flip the 7th district, it would be a major victory for the party and could help them retain control of the House in 2022. However, it is still early in the election cycle, and anything can happen between now and November of next year.
