Lambertville’s Sue Atman raised over $217,000 in the first month of her Congressional campaign in NJ’s 7th Congressional district.

Ms. Altman, who’s running to become the Democratic nominee to face GOP Congressman Tom Kean Jr next November, reportedly has over $194,00 cash-on-hand. (Full disclosure: that total includes $150 from my partner Greg and me.) Next June, Democratic primary votes will choose their candidates to face Kean in November 2024.

According the campaign, over 70% of Ms. Altman’s donors are from NJ and 60% gave less than $100, evidence of a steady grassroots ground game.

“The strong support I have received for my campaign from across the district and across New
Jersey shows that people want a Congresswoman who will protect a woman’s right to an
abortion, take action to keep our communities safe from gun violence and work tirelessly to help
provide relief from rising costs and unfair taxes like Trump’s cap on the SALT deduction,” she added.

Before throwing her name in the ring, Ms. Altman most recently led New Jersey Working Families Alliance, a non-profit that fights corruption on both sides of the aisle. Sue was also instrumental in raising New Jersey’s minimum wage and the fight to preserve NJ’s high quality public schools. 

The 7th district, which includes all of Hunterdon and Warren Counties and bits of Morris, Somerset, Sussex, and Union Counties, gained a slight GOP edge in past election due to redistricting. This race will be one of the most competitive of the 2024 Congressional cycle.

That makes Tom Kean a top target.

“People are tired of lifelong politicians like Tom Kean Jr, who spend their time in
elected office pandering to the powerful. In Congress, Kean has supported extremists like
Marjorie Taylor Greene, and continues to support their MAGA agenda that will take America
backwards fifty years,” Ms Altman added.

Ms. Altman has at least one primary opponent, Mayor Joe Signorello III of Roselle Park. Mr. Signorello, who doesn’t actually live in the 7th district, recently abandoned his campaign to challenge US Senator Bob Menendez for a Congressional bid.