UNION COUNTY, NJ – The race for New Jersey’s Congressional District 7 is being closely watched across the country.
A victory for challenger Sue Altman could give Democrats an edge in the U.S. House of Representatives.
A new Monmouth University poll shows Republican incumbent Tom Kean Jr. leading by just 2%, and the poll has a margin of error of 4.7%.
The swing district leans red and covers Warren and Hunterdon counties, as well as parts of Somerset, Sussex and Union counties.
Altman, a Democrat, and Kean, a Republican, flood the airwaves with political ads. Voters have been bombarded with campaign flyers in the mail.
Altman, Kean talks about the problems
Kean focuses on crime and securing the border. Altman on taking guns off the streets and women’s right to choose.
Altman, a former teacher and basketball player, says Kean’s record in both the House of Representatives and the state of New Jersey is bad for women.
“You’ve had 23 years of votes against Planned Parenthood, votes against codifying Roe. He even voted against ensuring that contraception is included in women’s health insurance,” Altman said.
Kean commented on the political website New Jersey Globe.
“I am pro-choice. I have 21 years of experience supporting pro-choice positions, and I would be against a national abortion ban,” Kean has previously said.
CBS News New York has repeatedly reached out to Kean’s campaign for an interview, but we have not received a response back.
“He knows the values of his donors do not align with the values of this district. These difficult questions we have, this back and forth – it’s difficult – I have to think carefully. He doesn’t want to do that,” Altman said.
“She is a progressive activist who will always side with extreme views, Bernie Sanders,” Kean previously said.
He says Altman called for defunding the police four years ago.
“I regret the ‘defund the police’ tweet, but I stand by it [by] the idea that we need to fund law enforcement and fund programs that can prevent crime,” Altman said.
When asked if she would defund the police, Altman said, “Of course not…I’m absolutely not doing that.”
So what has changed?
“The only time I tweeted was at a time when people were really dealing with a lot of confusion about what had happened with the deaths of some people at the hands of police, and that was a really important moment in American history. ‘, Altman said.
Voters are speaking out
Some voters say the high cost of living, women’s right to choose and crime are their top issues this election.
“Security is huge. Now more than ever. I don’t leave my doors open. I lock my doors and windows. I like to let the wind come through the house. I don’t do that anymore,” Westfield resident Elizabeth Rodriguez. said.
“I’m absolutely pro-abortion. I have a right to my own body, and I don’t like that, and I think Kean is hiding that,” Union County resident Barbara Temple said.
“What’s important to me is the economy, food prices, gas prices. A secure border,” Union County resident Linda Doss said.
“We need to support small businesses and farms, not huge conglomerates and giant agribusinesses,” Altman said.
Pollsters say the race is so close it’s hard to predict.
Christine Sloan
