House Speaker Mike Johnson came to New Jersey today for a fundraiser with Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-Westfield), making Kean perhaps the first congressman in state history to schedule fundraisers with two different sitting House Speakers in one election cycle.
Kean represents the 7th congressional district, which is the lone New Jersey congressional district expected to be highly competitive this fall, and Johnson’s continued hold on the House majority may hinge on Kean’s ability to win re-election. Today’s fundraiser had a minimum donation of $1,000 to attend, and also featured state GOP Chairman Bob Hugin and Republican National Committeeman Bill Palatucci.
In addition to appearing at the fundraiser, Johnson officially endorsed Kean for re-election today, though his support was never exactly in doubt (and Kean doesn’t have any declared primary challengers).
“Keeping our Republican majority runs right through Tom’s district and I’m calling on you today to join me in endorsing Tom and supporting him in this fight!” Johnson said in a fundraising blast.
Last year, Kean was set to host a fundraiser with then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, but it was rescheduled twice and then scrapped entirely when McCarthy was ousted as Speaker by House Democrats and a few renegade Republicans. Kean stood by McCarthy in that ouster vote, and then voted for Johnson to become the new Speaker after three weeks of speakerless chaos.
Kean has positioned himself as a relative moderate in the House Republican caucus, especially on issues like abortion, while Johnson is a committed social conservative. That has led Democrats to try and link the two together; Kean’s likely Democratic opponent, Sue Altman, appeared at a protest occurring simultaneously with today’s fundraiser to excoriate Kean’s support for Johnson.
“They are running scared,” Altman said. “The fact that they won’t come out and face us; the fact that they won’t face the music; the fact that they won’t put things up for a vote – they know they’re bad on the issues. They know we stand with the people.”