Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. is escalating his attacks on Democratic challenger Rebecca Bennett with a new television ad accusing the healthcare executive of profiting while patients suffered abuse, neglect, and denied care.
The 30-second advertisement, titled "Profits Over Patients," marks a more personal turn in the contest for New Jersey's 7th Congressional District, where Kean is seeking a third term against Bennett, a former Navy helicopter pilot and healthcare executive.
The ad opens with a news report about a former pediatrician sentenced for sexually assaulting 31 children before transitioning to allegations that a company prioritized profits over patient care.
It then targets Bennett, accusing her of becoming a millionaire while patients were harmed and portraying her as a wealthy liberal who cares more about profits than vulnerable people.
Kean's campaign argues that Bennett's healthcare career includes deals involving hospital chains accused of patient abuse, as well as relationships with companies and insurers criticized for denying coverage and putting profits ahead of care.
The ad's script does not establish a direct role for Bennett in the specific child sexual abuse case featured at the beginning of the spot. Instead, it uses the news clips and broader claims about the healthcare industry to attack her professional background.
The new advertisement also marks a shift from Kean's earlier messaging on healthcare.
In August, the congressman launched a spot titled "Every Patient" criticizing major insurance companies for denying care and imposing excessively high costs. That ad highlighted his efforts to hold insurers accountable and expand access to mental healthcare.
The race is unfolding in a competitive congressional district that has changed party control in recent election cycles. Kean defeated Democratic incumbent Tom Malinowski in 2022, and Democrats are again seeking to flip the seat in their effort to regain control of the House.
With Election Day approaching, healthcare costs and the candidates' competing records are likely to remain central to the contest. The latest ad makes clear that Kean intends to put Bennett's professional history under the microscope as the campaign intensifies.
