No sitting members of Congress from New Jersey have weighed in yet on the packed Democratic primary for New Jersey’s 7th congressional district, but one former member now has: former Rep. Rush Holt Jr. (D-Hopewell) announced today that he is endorsing climate scientist Megan O’Rourke.
“Megan’s candidacy is not just an exciting possibility for the people of New Jersey,” Holt said in a statement. “Her background as a scientist and former tenured professor can restore trust in science and its role in public policy and I am confident that she will be a dynamic legislator and leader in Washington.”
Like O’Rourke, Holt comes from a scientific background. Before flipping the 12th congressional district from the GOP in 1998, Holt worked at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory; both Holt and O’Rourke also spent time as officials in Washington, Holt at the State Department and O’Rourke at the Department of Agriculture.
O’Rourke is now running for the district adjacent to the one Holt used to represent, and some of Holt’s old constituents in Hunterdon and Somerset Counties are now in the 7th district. Eight other Democrats are running for the district, which is currently held by Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-Westfield) and which is expected to be a top Democratic target next year.
O’Rourke also picked up an endorsement today from Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine); O’Rourke worked for Pingree as a senior advisor in 2023.
“We need more partners in Congress like Megan with unique backgrounds that can bring invaluable contributions to the legislative process,” Pingree said. “Her science platform, in addition to her focus on other issues like labor, agriculture and the rising costs to families, will be an excellent addition to the house of representatives and I would be thrilled to serve with her as New Jersey’s next congresswoman.”
