NJ-07: Democrats bullish on flipping missing New Jersey Republican's House seat
Democrats are feeling bullish about their chances of flipping a critical New Jersey battleground district amid a Republican congressman’s prolonged absence from Washington.
Rep. Thomas Kean, Jr. (R-N.J.) formally clinched the GOP nomination for another term Tuesday, teeing up an uphill battle for the toss-up seat representing the west-central part of the Garden State. He’s also about to reach the three-month mark since he last took a vote in Congress, as he deals with an undisclosed health issue.
Kean said in an Election Day statement that he plans to return to Capitol Hill in a “matter of weeks” and maintained he will not drop out of the race, but Democrats say they’re feeling increasingly optimistic given the national political environment and the scrutiny facing the missing House member.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a slam dunk [for Democrats], but I think the incumbent has a significant amount of work to do to even bring this to 50-50,” said New Jersey Democratic strategist Laura Matos.
https://thehill.com/newsletters/on-the-ballot/5908099-democrats-kean-bennett-new-jersey-house/