NJ · Candidate
Rebecca Bennett
DCandidate
On the ballot Nov 3, 2026: U.S. House · New Jersey's 7th District
Biography
Rebecca Bennett is the Democratic nominee for New Jersey's 7th Congressional District. A former U.S. Navy helicopter and experimental test pilot who later worked in healthcare, she is vice president of strategic partnerships and network operations at Oshi Health. She was previously a registered Republican and switched parties in July 2016, and she is campaigning on affordability, healthcare and national security.[1][2][3]
According to her campaign website, Bennett grew up in a small town and earned a high school diploma from the Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science; WHYY reports she was born in New York and grew up in Texas.[2][3][5] She earned a bachelor's degree from Cornell University, where she studied chemical engineering on an ROTC scholarship, before commissioning into the U.S. Navy.[2][3] She 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; according to her Ballotpedia survey, she became the 18th female U.S. Naval Test Pilot School graduate.[2][3] She earned an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School using the GI Bill while serving as a test pilot.[2][3]
After leaving active duty, Bennett moved to New Jersey with her husband, also a Navy veteran, and worked in healthcare from early-stage startups to Fortune 50 companies; her campaign website says her work covered women's health, oncology, obesity and gastrointestinal care, and WHYY describes her employers as digital health, health care technology and pharmaceutical companies.[2][3][4][5] She is vice president of strategic partnerships and network operations at Oshi Health.[1] Bennett was previously a registered Republican and switched her registration to Democratic in July 2016.[1] She describes herself as a mother of two and says she volunteers to support veterans transitioning to civilian careers; WHYY reports that she lives in Bridgewater with her husband and two children.[2][5]
- 1.New Jersey's 7th Congressional District election, 2026 · Ballotpedia Reference
- 2.Rebecca Bennett (New Jersey) — Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · Ballotpedia (Candidate Connection survey) Candidate's own words
- 3.Meet Rebecca — Rebecca Bennett for Congress · Rebecca Bennett for Congress Candidate's own words
- 4.Rebecca Bennett's campaign website, as quoted by Ballotpedia (March 6, 2026) · Ballotpedia, quoting Rebecca Bennett for Congress campaign website · 2026-03-06 Candidate's own words
- 5.New Jersey election 2026: What to know about the 7th Congressional District race · WHYY · 2026-09-28 News report
Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21.
