“Brian Varela, a businessperson running for the Democratic nomination in New Jersey’s most competitive House race, recently announced a ‘no negativity’ pledge in which he would focus on issues, not attacks against fellow Democrats,” Politico reports.

“But despite the pledge, Varela approached several of his opponents’ campaigns with a proposition: Pool their money to dig up dirt on rival Rebecca Bennett, who’s seen as the closest thing there is to a frontrunner in this field of eight candidates seeking to take on Republican Tom Kean Jr. in the 7th Congressional District in November.”

“All of them rejected the offer.”

“Jason Blazakis (D) is dropping out of the race for the Democratic nomination for Congress in New Jersey’s 7th district, clearing the field for Sue Altman (D) to take on freshman Rep. Thomas Kean, Jr. (R-NJ) in one of the most closely-watched House races in the nation,” the New Jersey Globe reports.

The DCCC has mostly pulled out of New Jersey’s 7th district, leaving two-term Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-NJ) to largely fend for himself in his re-election campaign against Thomas Kean, Jr. (R), the New Jersey Globe reports.

Tom Kean, Jr. (R) will seek the Republican nomination for Congress in New Jersey’s 7th district next year, setting up a widely-anticipated rematch of his 2020 bid to unseat Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-NJ), the New Jersey Globe reports.

New Jersey Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean, Jr. (R) is expected to announce on April 16 that he will challenge freshman Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-NJ) in New Jersey’s 7th congressional district, the New Jersey Globe reports.