Former local councilman and Summit Democrats chairman Greg Vartan made a brief run for New Jersey’s 7th congressional district in 2024, but his timing was off, and he got out long before the primary. Vartan is now returning for another round as Democrats prepare to attempt to retake the House in 2026.
In his difficult suburban district, Vartan declared today that he will run again against Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-Westfield), a two-term Republican who has thwarted previous Democratic attempts to unseat him. Vartan claimed that he had the ideal profile to be the Democrat who ultimately defeats Kean since he was raised in Summit, served as a volunteer EMT for ten years, and served as a representative for his neighbors on the Summit Common Council for six years.
“I’ve worked hard since I was a teenager to be able to afford to live here and stay here; I have student loans, and the price of groceries, gas, and rent really really matter to me,” Vartan said. “I was the first in my family to graduate from college.” In my many, many, many years in public office, I have a track record of achieving outcomes for the common people in this area, and I have a thorough understanding of the problems they face.
Vartan, 31, is joining a Democratic primary that already has one other contender: Rebecca Bennett, a former helicopter pilot in the U.S. Navy who is currently employed in the medical field. Although Bennett has never run for office before, she is probably going to be a very strong competitor if the $125,000 she raised on her first day of the race is any indication.
Additionally, Sue Altman and Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-Ringoes), the two previous Democratic nominees for the 7th district, are still involved in local politics: While Altman, whose 2024 attempt to remove Kean failed 52%–46%, is currently Senator Andy Kim’s state director, Malinowski, who lost re-election to Kean 51%–49% in 2022, was appointed chairman of the Hunterdon County Democrats last year. Regarding their potential plans for the 2026 cycle, neither has yet to remark.
Although his website and fundraising page have been online for over a week, Vartan, who will formally launch his campaign later today, contends that he has what it takes to defeat Kean in both a Democratic primary and a general election. In contrast to 2024, he is starting relatively early. He believes he will make the most of the 16 months until the 2026 primary to establish relationships throughout the area.
“I think you need to be talking to voters all the time if you want to win,” he remarked. The objective is to establish a personal connection with each individual at the door, over the phone, in living rooms, union halls, and places of worship. I also want to demonstrate to the district’s residents that I am the best candidate for this position in as small or large a group as possible.
Having worked in sales his entire career, Vartan made his first run for office in 2016 at the age of 23. His bid for the Summit Common Council’s 2nd Ward ended in despair when he lost by a margin of eight votes, 2,578 to 2,570.
Unfazed, Vartan made another attempt in 2018 with far more success. Due to Donald Trump’s extreme unpopularity in wealthy suburbs like Summit, local Republicans were overtaken by a massive wave of Democrats, and Vartan won an open council seat that had been held by Republicans 64% to 36%. (That same evening, with the resounding backing of Summit voters, Malinowski ousted Representative Leonard Lance, giving Democrats control of the 7th district for the first time in decades.)
Vartan was elected council president in 2023 after winning reelection 55%-45% in 2021; however, he lost the position a year later when Republicans unexpectedly took over the council. He started a campaign for Congress in November 2023, but it was short-lived because Vartan was never able to obtain a position, and Altman and Jason Blazakis, a former State Department official, had already been campaigning and raising money for months before he entered the race. After raising only about $87,000, he left in January 2024 and soon after, he endorsed Altman.
Vartan’s name awareness outside of Summit increased as a result of that campaign, even if he was not elected to Congress. There were rumors that he may run for State Assembly this year in the Republican-held 21st district, but he clearly decided against it.Vartan was chosen Summit Democratic chairman last year, but he chose not to run for a third term on the council, and Claire Toth, a fellow Democrat, took his position.
Vartan is currently campaigning under the shadow of the Trump administration, which has already started to demolish large portions of the federal government, in contrast to his first House campaign. Four years after Joe Biden won the 7th district 51% to 47%, Trump narrowly prevailed in 2024, winning it 49% to 48%. Vartan stated that he thinks people in North and Central Jersey will turn against Trump, just as they did in 2018.
Vartan stated, “I think this administration’s policies will have the opposite effect on the economy and they are not working to lower costs.” It will reduce possibilities, increase inflation, and, in reality, only benefit exceedingly affluent individuals like Elon Musk. I do not believe it will be effective for the average person who is trying to succeed in this district, who is trying to buy their first home in this district, or who is trying to remain in this district after they retire. I believe they will realize that.
Additionally, Vartan contended that Kean, whose natural tendency in Washington is to stay out of the spotlight, at least in public, will not be the check on the Trump administration that his supporters desire.
According to Vartan, Tom Kean Jr. is basically going along with whatever his party leaders want, just like he was during his first term. When we need him to stand up, he won’t break with them. He doesn’t have town hall meetings, he doesn’t return calls or emails, and he doesn’t even make eye contact with reporters who are in the same elevator as him.
In addition to halting the Trump administration’s harmful and unlawful policies, Vartan stated that if elected, he will fight for the 7th district’s fundamental causes, which include reducing living expenses, increasing access to healthcare, and enhancing education and transportation.
According to the Cook Political Report, Kean, a dependable vote-getter in the Central Jersey suburbs for decades and a clear favorite for reelection, would be a formidable opponent for either Vartan or Bennett. In addition to persuading voters that they are the best Democratic candidate for the job, they will also need to persuade outside organizations to spend time and money in the expensive 7th district—something that 2022 and 2024 national Democrats were reluctant to do.
However, the early Democratic energy in the district is demonstrated by the fact that Vartan and Bennett are already running in February 2025. In contrast, Malinowski’s initial 2018 House campaign didn’t begin until October 2017, while Altman didn’t begin her 2024 campaign until May 2023.
Candidates and others who could join them have ample opportunity to present their case to voters thanks to their early entries. Vartan claims his argument is strong after spending almost ten years in the spotlight (despite not being old enough to be elected president).
According to Vartan, you must share experiences and backgrounds with the people whose votes you are seeking in order to reassure them in a genuine manner that you are aware of the problems they are having and that you are also dealing with them. And ever since I entered the political sphere, I have been doing it.
