Rebecca Bennett
Won a contested June 2, 2026 Democratic primary with 45.3% of the vote against Tina Shah (20.0%), Brian Varela (19.1%), and Michael Roth (15.6%).
Rebecca Bennett is the Democratic nominee for New Jersey's 7th Congressional District. A former U.S. Navy helicopter pilot and test pilot who later became a healthcare executive, she was previously a registered Republican and switched parties in July 2016. She is campaigning on affordability, healthcare, and national security.[2][10]
Positions on the issues
- SupportsProtect legal access to abortion
Campaign website says she will work in Congress to restore a woman's right to choose at the federal level and ensure New Jersey women's reproductive rights are not infringed upon.[11]
- SupportsExpand public health coverage
Says she would protect people with pre-existing conditions and restore Medicaid and Medicare funding, which she says Kean and Republicans cut.[11]
- SupportsStricter gun laws
Campaign website says she supports "commonsense, popular gun safety reforms," restrictions on weapons she describes as "weapons of war," reimplementing the tax on gun silencers, and restoring CDC gun-violence research funding.[11]
- SupportsFaster transition away from fossil fuels
Campaign website says she would maintain environmental regulations, invest in climate-resilient infrastructure, and incentivize renewable energy and electric vehicles.[11]
- OpposesRaise taxes on high earners or corporations
Campaign website says she would fully restore the SALT deduction so New Jersey taxpayers are not double-taxed.[11]
In their words — priorities
- Holding the current administration accountable, saying Congress has "abdicated its responsibility to be an equal branch of government."[10]
- Affordability, including bringing down costs for New Jersey families amid inflation and the rising cost of living.[10]
- Healthcare, drawing on her private-sector experience to expand access and bring down costs for patients.[10]
- National security, citing her military background and the growing use of AI and drones in warfare.[10]
Background
- Earned a high school diploma from the Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science and a bachelor's degree from Cornell University on an ROTC scholarship before commissioning into the U.S. Navy.[10]
- Served more than 15 years in the Navy and Air National Guard as a helicopter pilot, experimental test pilot, and aircraft commander, flying the MH-60 Seahawk; became the 18th female U.S. Naval Test Pilot School graduate.[10]
- Earned an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School using the GI Bill, then built a career in healthcare, including at Johnson & Johnson and in digital health, obesity, and gastrointestinal care.[10]
- Currently serves as vice president of strategic partnerships and network operations at Oshi Health.[2]
- Was previously a registered Republican and switched her registration to Democratic in July 2016.[2]
Campaign money
Raised $4.3M · spent $2.8M · $1.4M cash on hand (through 2026-06-30) FEC filing ↗