Tom Kean maintains cash lead in reelection bid

Sue Altman outraised Rep. Tom Kean nearly 2-to-1 in the third quarter, but the incumbent has a larger war chest and bigger backing. (Photos from Altman campaign/Hal Brown for New Jersey Monitor)

Democratic challenger Sue Altman outraised GOP Rep. Tom Kean in the third quarter nearly 2-to-1, but Kean maintains a cash lead moving into the final weeks of the state’s most closely watched House race.

Altman raised about $2.1 million in the quarter that ended Sept. 30, while Kean brought in a little more than $1.1 million, according to newly released filings with the Federal Election Commission. Kean is seeking reelection to New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District after flipping it to Republican control two years ago.

Altman’s haul has nearly closed the incumbent’s overall fundraising lead. Counting contributions reported on filings required in the closing days of a campaign, Kean has raised a total of $5.4 million this cycle to Altman’s nearly $5.3 million.

But lower overall spending from Kean — $2.7 million to Altman’s $3.8 million — over the course of the cycle has ensured Kean moves into the race’s final days with a larger war chest. He had more than $2.8 million in reserves at the end of September, nearly double Altman’s $1.4 million.

The race’s independent expenditures are far more lopsided. The Congressional Leadership Fund, the House GOP’s political spending arm, has poured nearly $2.3 million into the 7th District, with the overwhelming share of its spending there used to ding Altman.

America PAC, a Republican super PAC created by Elon Musk, reported putting an additional $627,313 into the district to fund canvassers, mailers, and phone banks boosting Kean’s candidacy.

Independent expenditures in support of Altman have been anemic by comparison, and outside spending by the Working Families Party PAC accounts for nearly all of it. The group reported putting $427,370 behind get-out-the-vote operations and mailers boosting Altman in the district. She was state director of New Jersey Working Families before launching her congressional campaign.

A Monmouth University poll released Wednesday shows a tight contest in the 7th District, with a sizable portion of undecided voters.

7th District House candidates

Sue Altman (D)

Tom Kean Jr. (R)*

Andrew Black (Green)

Lana Leguia (Libertarian)

*incumbent

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE