NJ-07: Vartan (D) drops out of primary
Former Summit Councilman Greg Vartan is ending his campaign in New Jersey’s 7th congressional district, the first winnowing of the district’s packed Democratic field.
Vartan, who was one of nine Democrats running to beat Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-Westfield), said that he’ll instead shift into a new role within the Union County Democratic organization, coordinating the county party’s endorsement process among the remaining 7th district candidates.
“I was born and raised in this district, and my life has been about giving back to the community that shaped me,” Vartan said in a statement. “I’ve dedicated myself to supporting my neighbors in Summit and right now, the best thing I can do for Summit is to help Democrats flip NJ-7 and bring us the representation we deserve in Washington. That starts with running a fair endorsement process that empowers Democratic voters and ensures we put our best candidate forward.”
This year’s campaign was Vartan’s second attempt at flipping the 7th district, a highly competitive seat that’s key to Democratic efforts to win back the House majority next year. His 2024 campaign, though, lasted only a few months; by the time he got into the race, many Democrats had already lined up behind eventual nominee Sue Altman, and he found himself boxed out.
https://newjerseyglobe.com/congress/vartan-drops-out-of-nj-7-primary/