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Westfield Today
By the People, for the People
Shah Loans Campaign $650K as NJ-7 Primary Enters Final Months
Physician candidate self-funds over two-thirds of her $960K Q1 fundraising haul.
Apr. 13, 2026 at 6:24pm
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As the NJ-7 Democratic primary enters its final months, candidates are pouring resources into their campaigns to reach voters.Westfield TodayTina Shah, a Democratic candidate for New Jersey's 7th congressional district, has loaned her campaign $650,000 out of the $960,000 she raised in the first quarter of 2026. Shah has now raised just under $2 million since entering the race last summer and has $1.4 million on hand as the primary election approaches.
Why it matters
The NJ-7 Democratic primary is shaping up to be a competitive and expensive race, with several candidates relying heavily on self-funding to fuel their campaigns. Shah's ability to self-finance a significant portion of her campaign could give her an advantage, but she'll still need to convince voters that her message resonates more than her better-funded opponents.
The details
Of the four Democrats seeking the seat currently held by Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-Westfield), three have relied extensively on self-funding. Businessman Brian Varela had loaned his own campaign more than $1 million as of the end of 2025, while former Small Business Administration official Michael Roth gave his campaign $400,000 earlier this year. The one candidate who has not engaged in any self-funding is Navy helicopter pilot Rebecca Bennett, who has raised $2.7 million since launching her campaign, including more than $700,000 in the last three months.
- Tina Shah entered the race for NJ-7 last summer.
- Shah raised around $960,000 in the 1st quarter of 2026.
- As of the end of the 1st quarter, Shah had $1.4 million on hand.
The players
Tina Shah
A practicing physician who is running for the Democratic nomination in New Jersey's 7th congressional district.
Tom Kean Jr.
The current Republican representative for New Jersey's 7th congressional district.
Brian Varela
A businessman running for the Democratic nomination in NJ-7 who has loaned his campaign over $1 million.
Michael Roth
A former Small Business Administration official running for the Democratic nomination in NJ-7 who has given his campaign $400,000.
Rebecca Bennett
A Navy helicopter pilot running for the Democratic nomination in NJ-7 who has raised $2.7 million, the most of any candidate.
What they’re saying
“I could not be more proud that we have built a campaign that has the resources to flip this seat and defeat Tom Kean Jr, as we near primary day. We know that we have the best message to reach voters across NJ-7 and stop Donald Trump's assault on our Democracy and our economy.”
— Tina Shah, Candidate
The takeaway
The NJ-7 Democratic primary is shaping up to be a high-stakes and well-funded race, with several candidates relying heavily on self-financing to fuel their campaigns. While Shah's ability to self-fund a significant portion of her campaign could give her an advantage, she'll still need to convince voters that her message resonates more than her better-funded opponents.
