Dems pick challenger for GOP congressman who vanished from public view amid health mystery Democrat Rebecca Bennett will face Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. in a New Jersey House race. Kean has been absent from public view since early March due to an undisclosed health issue, missing numerous votes. The race is considered a key contest for the House majority, with the district rated as a ‘toss-up’.

• Rebecca Bennett won the Democratic nomination for a New Jersey House seat.
• She will face incumbent Rep. Tom Kean Jr., a Republican, in the general election.
• Kean has been absent from public view and Congress since early March due to an undisclosed health issue.
• The district is a battleground and considered critical for the House Republican majority.
• Kean has stated he will be transparent about his medical issue when he resumes in-person work within weeks.
• He has missed all recent roll call votes since March 5.
• Bennett ran a less progressive campaign than other Democrats in her primary, notably not calling for the abolition of ICE.
• The Cook Political Report rates the general election contest as a ‘toss-up’.