With the Democratic primary in New Jersey’s 7th congressional district now just weeks away, the race to challenge one of the nation’s most vulnerable Republican incumbents is taking a negative turn.
Evidence suggests that candidate Michael Roth is planning to launch a wave of attack ads targeting the Democratic frontrunner, Rebecca Bennett, as a new poll reveals voters have significant concerns about her record and financial holdings.
Roth, a former interim leader of the Small Business Administration under President Joe Biden, is one of four Democrats vying for the nomination to unseat two-term Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr.
Bennett, a former Navy helicopter pilot, is widely seen as the establishment-backed frontrunner and the top fundraiser in the primary field.
The decision by Roth to go on the offensive comes as a newly unearthed poll, commissioned by one of the candidates or an independent expenditure group, tested which of Bennett’s “disqualifiers” is most persuasive to likely primary voters.
According to the poll, Bennett is the only Democrat in the race who does not support abolishing ICE, a stark contrast to progressive rival Brian Varela, who has called for an “immediate end” to the agency.
Roth’s website does not mention immigration or the Gestapo-like ICE agents who are brutally abducting people off the streets, which is among the things voters most dislike about the Trump Republicans.
A majority of American voters (60%) disapprove of how ICE enforces immigration laws, with many viewing the agency’s actions as having “gone too far” and making communities less safe.
While around 43-50% of voters may support general border policies, over half (53-62%) disapprove of the Trump administration’s overall handling of immigration, making it a significant area of public dissatisfaction.
The poll also pointed to Bennett’s personal stock portfolio, alleging she has invested in fossil fuel giants like ExxonMobil, Chevron, and ConocoPhillips, as well as in BlackRock and military defense contractors.
Most American voters across party lines support banning members of Congress from trading individual stocks, a practice that severely erodes public trust and raises concerns about conflicts of interest.
Voters, particularly Democrats and Independents, heavily criticize lawmakers who hold investments in coal, oil, and gas companies.
These findings align with recent reports and op-eds that have scrutinized her campaign website, which critics say uses vague language on climate and omits any mention of her holdings.
Further questions in the poll accused Bennett of refusing to stand up to AIPAC and being invested in companies working with Israel. Notably, the poll alleged that Bennett invested $120,000 in contractors that assisted ICE in tracking and deporting undocumented immigrants.
Across the U.S. political landscape, there is evidence of voter frustration with candidates who are perceived as refusing to stand up to AIPAC’s influence. Recent polls indicate that 48% of voters in select districts surveyed by Drop Site and Zeteo stated they would never support a candidate funded by AIPAC or the pro-Israel lobby, with 28% expressing strong opposition.
The situation is further complicated by the mysterious absence of the incumbent, Tom Kean Jr. Kean has not cast a vote in Congress since March, and his office will only say he is dealing with “a personal medical issue,” sparking widespread speculation about his health and political future.
Some rumors even suggest he has cancer or has suffered a nervous breakdown due to depression over his imminent defeat, though these are unconfirmed.
Roth’s campaign manager, Hilary Caldwell, did not return a call seeking comment on the poll or the planned ad campaign.
No matter who emerges from the crowded June 2nd Democratic primary, they will be the heavy favorite to take on the missing-in-action Kean in the general election.
The 7th Congressional District primary appears to be a two-way race, where progressive New Jersey Democrat Brian Varela is slightly trailing longtime Texas Republican Rebecca Bennett, the former Navy helicopter pilot whose husband spent time working in former Governor Phil Murphy’s office and later landed a job at the New Jersey Economic Development Agency.