Democrat Rebecca Bennett defeats Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. in New Jersey's 7th Congressional District
Democrat Rebecca Bennett won New Jersey's 7th Congressional District race, defeating two-term Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. Kean had been absent from Congress for roughly four months earlier in 2026 while being treated for depression, missing over 100 votes. Bennett, a former Navy helicopter pilot, held a significant fundraising edge over Kean.
23
Divergence score
6 outlets covered it, splitting into 6 framing camps across 3 bias groups.
6 camps
3 bias groups
The spectrum · how 6 outlets placed this story
LeftCenterRight
CBS News
Washington Examiner
The Hill
Bloomberg
NY Post
NBC News
Supportive of action
Neutral
Dismissive
Critical
Alarmist
International angle
Widest split · the two outlets furthest apart, and who published first
Furthest apart on this story
CBS News
GOP Rep. Tom Kean Jr. ousted in New Jersey
Absence and transparency debate · neutral
NY Post
NJ Rep. Tom Kean Jr. loses to Rebecca Bennett after disappearing for nearly four months
Dynasty and disappearance color · negative
First to report
- NBC Newsfirst
- Bloomberg+0 min
- The Hill+12 min
- NY Post+12 min
- CBS News+18 min
- Washington Examiner+18 min
By each outlet's earliest publish time in this story. Feeds that index slowly can appear later than they printed.
The split, in one line
Most outlets center Kean's monthslong absence for depression as the decisive factor; the wires just call the race, while one outlet reaches back to his 1776 political dynasty for color.
How each outlet covered it
Broad agreement on what happened
Outlets across the spectrum land in roughly the same place: the shared language is highlighted.
THE LEFT
“GOP Rep. Tom Kean loses re-election bid after monthslong absence from Congress this year”NBC NBC News LEFT-CENTER
23LOW DIVERGENCE
THE RIGHT
“NJ Rep. Tom Kean Jr. loses to Rebecca Bennett after disappearing for nearly four months”NYP NY Post RIGHT
DOWN THE MIDDLE
“Bennett ousts Kean Jr. in battleground New Jersey House race” · The Hill, Bloomberg
+Hide the full sourcingSee how all 6 outlets put it
LEFT-CENTER2
CBSCBS News GOP Rep. Tom Kean Jr. ousted in New Jersey 1h ago NBCNBC News GOP Rep. Tom Kean loses re-election bid after monthslong absence from Congress this year 1h ago 4 tracked claims across 6 outlets
Fact ledger
All4Claimed1Corroborated3
2/6
Claimed
Bennett won with roughly 60% of the vote to Kean's 38%
Corroborated
Disputed
3 more tracked claimsSign up free to see the full ledger