Former Trump Secretary of State and possible 2024 GOP presidential candidate Mike Pompeo is wading into the NJ-07 primary contest.
“Tom Kean, Jr. is the model of a true public servant,” the Secretary said on Tuesday in an endorsement release. “Tom has an unmatched record of standing up for his constituents and his home state of New Jersey, and I am proud to endorse him to take the fight down to Washington on behalf of the people of New Jersey. Tom is the exact kind of leader New Jersey needs to help break the back of inflation, secure our nation’s borders, and put a check on the Democrats to get our country back on track.”
“I’m grateful for Secretary Pompeo’s endorsement and for his hard work and success representing American values at home and around the world,” said Kean. “I look forward to keeping up the fight to make sure the people of New Jersey are represented by someone who puts their interests where they belong – front and center, not second to Biden and Pelosi’s agenda. Especially in times like these, New Jersey needs strong, transformative leadership that puts New Jerseyans first, and with the help of Secretary Pompeo we will get the job done.”
Kean’s name recognition, county lines and accrued warchest make him the clear frontrunner for the 2022 nomination. In 2020, a much better year for Democrats, he fell about 4,000 votes short of unseat Democrat incumbent Tom Malinowski who’s since come under ethical scrutiny for unreported stock trades.
NJ-07 is considered the NRCC’s top New Jersey target this year and one of the GOP’s #1 pick up priorities for the midterm cycle.
Pompeo and ex-Trump UN Ambassador Nikki Haley are among a group of Republicans actively issuing endorsements, making friends, and keeping their options open while they wait to see whether Donal Trump enters the 2024 race as a candidate or a potential kingmaker.
