U.S. House of Representatives New Jersey 7th Congressional District in Multiple, New Jersey

2026 Primary Election

• Thomas Kean Jr. — U.s. House of Representatives New Jersey 7th Congressional District in Multiple, New Jersey

  Thomas Kean Jr. is the incumbent U.S. Representative for New Jersey's 7th Congressional District, serving since 2023. He is a member of the Republican Party. Prior to his time in Congress, he served in the New Jersey Senate from 2003 to 2022, where he was the Minority Leader from 2008 to 2022. He also served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 2001 to 2003. Kean holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Dartmouth College and a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from Tufts University's Fletcher School. His family has a history of public service; his father is former Governor Thomas H. Kean, Sr., and his grandfather was U.S. Representative Robert Kean.

• Beth Ellen Adubato — Criminal Justice Professor in Not specified, New Jersey

  Beth Ellen Adubato is a Criminal Justice professor at Saint Peter's University and Rutgers. She holds a Ph.D. and three degrees from Rutgers, including a Master's in Public Affairs and Politics. Adubato is a Fulbright Scholar and has a background in media, having worked at News 12 New Jersey. She is also the founder of the LINDA Organization, which supports women affected by domestic violence, incarceration, and homelessness. As a survivor of gender-based violence, she is a strong advocate against domestic abuse and sexual assault.

• Rebecca Bennett — U.s. House of Representatives New Jersey 7th Congressional District in Multiple, New Jersey

  Rebecca Bennett is a healthcare executive and a former U.S. Navy helicopter pilot, test pilot, and aircraft commander, with over a decade of active duty service. She is a graduate of Cornell University and earned an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School. After her active duty, she worked at healthcare companies focused on menopausal and gastrointestinal health. A native of Bridgewater, she is running for Congress to bring a new style of leadership to Washington.

• Michael Garth — Candidate in Not specified, Not specified

  Michael Garth filed to run for New Jersey's 7th Congressional District but has since terminated his campaign, according to FEC records.

• Megan O'Rourke — Scientist, Former Farmer, Labor Leader in Blairstown, New Jersey

  Megan O'Rourke is a scientist, former farmer, and labor leader from Blairstown, New Jersey. She holds a Ph.D. in Agricultural Ecology from Cornell University. O'Rourke previously worked as a lead climate scientist at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), where she was also a union steward for the American Federation of Government Employees. She resigned from the USDA in the summer of 2025, citing the Trump administration's policies on climate science.

• Michael Roth — Small Business Consultant in Not specified, New Jersey

  Michael Roth is a small business consultant who previously served as an interim leader at the U.S. Small Business Administration during the Biden administration. He has experience in growing a national business.

• Felipe Santos — Candidate in Not specified, Not specified

  Felipe Santos has filed with the Federal Election Commission to run as a Democratic candidate for New Jersey's 7th Congressional District in 2026. There is limited public information available about his background and platform.

• Tina Shah — U.s. House of Representatives New Jersey 7th Congressional District in Multiple, New Jersey

  Dr. Tina Shah is a practicing physician who is triple board-certified in internal medicine, pulmonology, and critical care medicine. She has served in both the Obama and Biden administrations. During the Obama administration, she was a White House Fellow and a special advisor to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. More recently, she was a senior advisor to the U.S. Surgeon General, where she helped develop a national strategy to address healthcare worker burnout. Dr. Shah earned her medical degree from Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University and a master's in public health from Harvard University. She has also worked as a chief medical officer for an AI company.

• Brian Varela — Entrepreneur, Community Leader in Long Valley, NJ

  Brian Varela is a first-generation American entrepreneur and community leader. The son of Colombian immigrants, he worked full-time while attending college and later earned an MBA. After a career in corporate America, he started a successful business that was recognized by Inc. Magazine as one of the fastest-growing companies in the country. He is also the chair of the Morris County Democratic Party Hispanic Caucus.