Rep. Tom Kean Jr. said for the first time Sunday night that he opposes an ICE facility in Roxbury, drawing a clear line in his only debate against Democrat Rebecca Bennett.
"My focus is to make sure we don't have an ICE facility in Roxbury," Kean said. Bennett noted it was the first time he had been explicit. Kean had previously said only that he was working with the Trump administration and Roxbury officials on a solution. He also said Bennett never once broke from the average Democrat in Congress.
The 90-minute debate in Rahway, sponsored by the New Jersey Globe and Rider University, produced no major blows or gaffes that could reshape the race, the Globe reported. Kean pointed to areas where he has broken with the administration while defending the president's economic agenda. Of the tax and spending law, he said, "That bill jump started the economy."
On Iran, Kean backed the strikes, saying the country's leaders "have as their goal a nuclear weapon." He said he sees the war "getting positive results" and blamed Joe Biden and the Green New Deal for high energy costs. On tariffs, Kean called them the president's prerogative. Bennett blamed the war for rising gas prices, which have reached roughly $5 per gallon across the district.
Kean also pressed Bennett on money in politics. She repeatedly declined to state her net worth, promising to release financial details later. Kean said she still has some control over her stock holdings through mutual funds.
The stakes are high in what has been described as New Jersey's one true swing district, where Republicans hold a registered-voter edge of about 20,000. Trump carried the district by one point in 2024, and Mikie Sherrill won it by two last year. A Stimsight Research poll released the week before the debate gave Bennett a 5-point lead, and a super PAC tied to Trump has said it will spend more than $3 million to help Kean.
With no more debates on the calendar, the two next meet at the ballot box on Nov. 3.
