NEW JERSEY, November 1, 2026 — With the November 3 midterm elections just two days away, voter registration figures in New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District reveal a changing political landscape as Republican incumbent Tom Kean Jr. faces Democratic challenger Rebecca Bennett in one of the state’s closely watched congressional races.
The latest available official registration data, dated October 1, show that Democrats have gained registered voters at a faster pace than Republicans since the beginning of 2026, although Republicans continue to hold a numerical advantage in the district.
The race also includes Seamus Patrick O’Toole, running under the Stop Israel’s Genocide designation.
Republicans Maintain Registration Advantage
According to New Jersey Division of Elections data, the 7th Congressional District had 639,566 registered voters as of October 1, 2026.
The registration figures show:
- Republicans: 218,268 voters (34.13%)
- Democrats: 202,071 voters (31.60%)
- Unaffiliated voters: 212,745 (33.26%)
- Other political affiliations: 6,482 (1.01%)
Republicans therefore held an advantage of 16,197 registered voters over Democrats.
However, the figures also reveal that the gap between the two major parties has narrowed during 2026.
Democrats Gain Ground in Voter Registration
Since January 1, Democratic registration in the district has increased by 5,485 voters, compared with a net increase of 1,397 Republicans.
During September alone, Democratic registration increased by 384 voters, while Republican registration declined by 38.
The number of unaffiliated voters increased by 1,134 during the same period.
These figures suggest changes in the district’s party registration balance, although they do not establish whether the changes resulted from new registrations, voters switching parties, or other adjustments to registration records.
New Jersey also has a substantial unaffiliated electorate, whose voting preferences cannot be determined from party registration statistics alone.
Kean and Bennett Compete for the Congressional Seat
Republican Congressman Tom Kean Jr. is seeking reelection after first winning the district in 2022.
Kean previously served in the New Jersey Legislature and comes from a prominent political family. His father, Thomas Kean, served as governor of New Jersey.
Democratic challenger Rebecca Bennett is a former U.S. Navy helicopter pilot who has focused her campaign on affordability, economic issues, and healthcare.
The candidates have presented different approaches to federal economic policy, immigration, and the role of government.
Seamus Patrick O’Toole is also listed on the official November 3 ballot, giving voters a third choice.
The district includes Hunterdon and Warren counties, along with portions of Morris, Somerset, Sussex, and Union counties.
Early Voting Adds Another Dimension
Early voting has also attracted attention in the district.
According to figures reported by the New Jersey Globe, 11,494 residents of the 7th District voted in person on the first day of early voting, October 24.
Of those voters, 5,729 were registered Democrats, 3,345 were Republicans, and 2,379 were unaffiliated.
However, these numbers represent the party affiliations of participating voters, not their actual selections on the ballot.
A registered Democrat may vote for a Republican candidate, and a registered Republican may vote for a Democrat or another candidate.
Therefore, neither registration statistics nor early voting participation figures can establish the outcome before ballots are counted.
What the Changes Tell Us
The latest figures show two developments occurring simultaneously.
Republicans continue to maintain a registration advantage in the district, while Democrats have experienced larger net registration gains during 2026.
Meanwhile, approximately one-third of registered voters remain unaffiliated with either major party.
These patterns make voter participation and individual candidate preferences important subjects for analysis, but they do not provide a reliable prediction of the final election results.
The November 3 election will determine who represents New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives for the next two years.
The changing registration numbers provide a useful picture of the district’s evolving political composition, but the voters themselves will determine the outcome at the ballot box.
Sources: New Jersey Division of Elections, October 2026 Voter Registration Statistics; Public Record NJ; New Jersey Globe, October 25, 2026; New Jersey Division of Elections, Official Candidate List.
By NJ RADAR Team