A Trump-aligned super PAC is directing about $3.3 million into New Jersey’s 7th District race, while Elon Musk’s PAC is also backing Tom Kean Jr. with outside spending.
WEBDESK – NJNEWSLINE
A major infusion of outside political spending is reshaping the 2026 congressional race in New Jersey’s 7th District, where Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. is seeking another term against Democratic challenger Rebecca Bennett.
A super PAC aligned with President Donald Trump has directed approximately $3.3 million toward the race, according to recent reporting. The spending comes as national Republican groups increase their involvement in competitive House contests ahead of the November midterm elections.
The group behind the investment is Safety and Affordability PAC, a newly formed Trump-aligned super PAC that is spending across competitive House districts. Reporting from Save Jersey and other outlets identified the roughly $3.3 million commitment to New Jersey’s 7th District as an effort to support Kean.
Musk’s PAC also spending in NJ-7
The race has also attracted spending from Elon Musk’s America PAC.
Federal spending records reported by Spotlight PA show that America PAC has put money into eight House races during the 2026 cycle, including Kean’s race. The PAC spent about $11,000 directly on Kean’s race, while its spending across the eight House contests approached $90,000.
Reuters reported earlier this month that America PAC had spent more than $800,000 supporting Republican candidates in closely contested House and Senate races, with plans for a significantly larger political operation during the 2026 election cycle.
The spending marks another example of national political organizations directing resources into congressional districts where control of the House could be affected.
New Jersey Democrats criticize the spending
The New Jersey State Democratic Committee seized on the new spending to criticize Trump, Musk and Kean.
In a statement reported by Insider NJ, state Democratic Chairman LeRoy J. Jones accused Trump and Musk of attempting to protect Kean because of his support for the Trump administration’s agenda.
Jones also criticized Kean’s voting record and accused the Republican incumbent of being a consistent supporter of Trump.
Those are Democratic Party claims rather than independent findings. Kean and his campaign had not responded to the statement in the material provided.
The committee’s statement also invoked the ongoing public discussion surrounding the Jeffrey Epstein files when describing Trump and Musk. That characterization comes from the New Jersey Democratic Party and is not evidence that the campaign spending itself is connected to the files.
Why NJ-7 is attracting national attention
Kean, who represents New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District, won the seat in 2022 after defeating Democratic incumbent Tom Malinowski and won reelection in 2024. He is now facing Bennett in a district that national political organizations are closely watching.
CBS News reported in June that Bennett won the Democratic primary and that the district was considered one of the more vulnerable Republican-held House seats for the 2026 elections.
Federal Election Commission data show Kean’s campaign reported more than $3.6 million in cash on hand as of June 30, 2026.
The latest outside spending adds another layer to a race already drawing attention from national political groups.
For voters in NJ-7, the immediate effect is likely to be more campaign advertising and political messaging as national organizations spend money to influence the contest.
What the spending means
The $3.3 million commitment from the Trump-aligned super PAC and additional spending by America PAC demonstrate how national political networks are becoming involved in the NJ-7 contest.
The New Jersey Democratic State Committee has characterized the spending as an attempt to influence the election on Kean’s behalf. Republicans and the outside groups involved may characterize the expenditures as routine political spending to support a congressional candidate.
The available reports establish the amount of spending and the involvement of outside groups, but they do not establish that spending will determine the election’s outcome.
With November approaching, NJ-7 is set to remain a closely watched congressional contest, with voters likely to see substantially more outside-funded advertising in the weeks ahead.
