Tom Kean Jr. wins N.J. Republican primary to set up rematch against Democrat Tom Malinowski

New Jersey voters got their marquee congressional race Tuesday as former state Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean Jr. and Democratic Rep. Tom Malinowski won their primaries Tuesday, according to projections by the Associated Press.

That sets up what promises to be the state’s hottest congressional battle in this November’s midterm general election: a rematch of 2020, when Malinowski narrowly won re-election over Kean, the son of former Gov. Tom Kean.

Kean dispatched six opponents to win the Republican nomination Tuesday, including state Assemblyman Eric Peterson of Hunterdon County and pastor Phil Rizzo, who ran unsuccessfully for governor in last year’s GOP primary.

Kean had nearly 19,000 votes — or about 45% of the vote — when the AP called the race at about 10:30 p.m., followed by Rizzo with more than 9,000 votes and Peterson more than 7,000.

Malinowski beat perennial candidate Roger Bacon to take the Democratic nomination Tuesday.

“It’s going to be another close race, and in New Jersey this year, this is the race (to watch),” Malinowski told NJ PBS after his win. “All eyes are going to be on our district. I’m just glad that the Democratic party is completely unified.”