Thomas Kean wins GOP primary to take on Rep. Tom Malinowski

New Jersey state Senate Minority Leader Thomas Kean Jr. won the Republican primary in New Jersey’s 7th District to take on first-term Rep. Tom Malinowski (D).

Kean, son of former New Jersey Gov. Thomas Kean and grandson of former Rep. Robert Kean (R-N.J.), was leading with 84 percent of the vote with 23 percent of precincts reporting, according to The Associated Press. He prevailed over human resources executive Tom Phillips and physician Raafat Barsoom.

A party favorite, Kean was recruited to the National Republican Congressional Committee’s Young Guns program. He unsuccessfully ran against Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) in 2006.

Kean will face Malinowski, who ran unopposed in the primary. Malinowski, a former assistant secretary of State, unseated Rep. Leonard Lance (R) in 2018 by 5 points as part of a Democratic wave.

The Cook Political Report rates the race as “Lean Democratic.” 

The New Jersey primaries were originally scheduled for June 2, but were postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Like other states, it has seen a surge in mailed-in ballots that are likely to delay some of the results.