House Speaker Mike Johnson traveled to New Jersey on Friday to rally support for Rep. Tom Kean Jr., framing the congressman's re-election bid as one of the most important races in the country and a potential deciding factor for Republican control of the House and President Donald Trump's legislative agenda.
Speaking at Hawke Point Golf Club in the state's 7th Congressional District, which includes Trump's Bedminster golf course, Johnson told supporters that the race is a top priority for the GOP. "We consider this a top three race, not just a top ten. That's how important it is to us. It has a target on its back," Johnson said, according to remarks heard at the event. "They're investing tons of money to try to take [Kean] down, but they are not going to be successful."
The district is one of the few remaining politically competitive House seats in the country. Trump narrowly won the area by two points in 2024, but Democrat Mikie Sherrill, now governor, flipped it by the same margin in 2025. Democrats have nominated Rebecca Bennett, a former Navy helicopter pilot, to challenge Kean, betting that the district's volatility gives them a realistic path to winning the House majority.
Johnson warned that a Democratic victory would stall Trump's agenda, while a Republican win would allow the party to pursue aggressive plans to cut government waste and excessive spending. "If Republicans win, that means enacting Trump's agenda for another two years," he said.
Kean, who is seeking a third term, expressed confidence in his chances, pointing to his record of bipartisan legislation and constituent service. "I've been a really effective legislator who's brought things back to the district, who's listened to my constituents on their needs and their concerns, in contrast to my opponent, who has really been a very abject partisan," Kean said on the sidelines of the event.
Kean also criticized Bennett's willingness to work across the aisle, claiming she has avoided attending church services because Republicans are present. "She'll never work across the aisle. She'll be always in the far-left corner of whoever is in her caucus," he said. Bennett's spokesperson, Carly Jones, rejected the accusation, saying, "Rebecca is an active member of her local church and talks openly on the campaign trail about her faith, which inspired her to serve her country in uniform and run for office. She is proudly building a coalition of Democrats, Independents and Republicans to flip this seat in November."
Kean's campaign event notably avoided partisan branding, with signs reading only "Tom Kean for Congress" and no mention of "GOP" or "Republican." The congressman noted that he has had legislation signed into law by both former President Joe Biden and Trump, while insisting he supports the current president "fully."
Johnson also brought in former All-Star baseball player Mark Teixeira, who is running for a safe Republican seat in Texas, to help generate enthusiasm at the event. The speaker used the appearance to highlight recent victories by far-left candidates in Democratic primaries, arguing that such developments show why Democrats should not control the House. "It's a challenge to the very foundational principles of America, and that is increasingly what the Democrat Party represents," Johnson said.
Kean was absent from public view from March through June this year, later revealing he was being treated for depression. Upon his return, he introduced legislation aimed at making mental healthcare more affordable. Bennett has not criticized the reason for his absence but has accused him of continuing to trade stocks during that period, saying he traded more than $3 million worth of stocks while in office. "I spent 15 years serving our country in the military, and I felt called to serve once again because I can't sit on the sidelines while Washington corruption, rising costs, and devastating healthcare cuts crush New Jersey families," she said.