Malinowski beats back GOP challenge in New Jersey House race

Rep. Tom Malinowski (D) is projected to hold onto his seat in New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District for another term, defeating his GOP opponent, state Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean.

The Associated Press called the race at 12:20 a.m. EST. 

The race was viewed as competitive, as Republicans sought to win back the seat that was once a GOP stronghold for decades.

But Malinowski, who formerly served as the assistant secretary of State for democracy, human rights and labor in the Obama administration, held on during the competitive race that The Cook Political report ranked as “leans Democrat.”

Over his term in the House, Malinowski has made a name for himself, from his involvement in the House impeachment inquiry last year to his sponsorship of a bill condemning the dangerous conspiracy theory, QAnon.