Democrat Candidate in New Jersey Deletes Social Media Posts, Fuels Accusations of Shifting Stance

Rebecca Bennett, a Democratic candidate vying for a congressional seat in New Jersey’s 7th district, is facing scrutiny after deleting several social media posts that promoted progressive figures and causes. Bennett, a Navy veteran and current member of the Air National Guard, is challenging Republican Rep. Thomas Kean Jr. in a district leaning Republican, according to the Cook Political Report.

Her campaign has presented her as a moderate, seeking to appeal to a broader range of voters in the district. However, the resurfaced and subsequently deleted social media activity is raising questions about the authenticity of her moderate positioning and whether she is strategically attempting to distance herself from progressive viewpoints to improve her chances in the general election.

A review of Bennett’s X (formerly Twitter) account, which was recently renamed from @BigRedBecks to @RebeccaForNJ07, revealed several deleted posts that showcased her support for prominent progressive figures. Among those were expressions of admiration for Senator Elizabeth Warren. In a 2019 post, Bennett stated, "Love her," in reference to Warren. Additionally, she praised a video mashup featuring Warren set to a Taylor Swift song, writing, "I love everything about this (Except the misogyny that makes it real…) #TeamWarren." Both posts have since been removed from her account.

Further fueling the controversy, Bennett also deleted posts expressing support for former Vice President Kamala Harris, who ran alongside President Joe Biden in 2020. The district narrowly favored Donald Trump over Harris by a slim margin of just over one percentage point. In a 2020 post celebrating Harris’s selection as Biden’s running mate, Bennett exclaimed, "Let’s Goooooo." This post has also been scrubbed from her social media presence.

Her support extended to other prominent Democrats as well. Bennett had previously lauded Democratic New Jersey Senator Cory Booker as the "best senator" in a 2020 post. However, this endorsement has also vanished from her X account.

The deleted posts are not limited to endorsements of political figures. During the nationwide unrest following the death of George Floyd in 2020, Bennett shared her views on the matter. She posted that she agreed with a comment from former Obama campaign strategist David Plouffe, advocating for House Democrats to "hold hearings" and investigate law enforcement officials’ response to the riots. This post, too, has been removed from her account.

Perhaps one of the most controversial deletions is a post that appeared to express support for the first impeachment of President Donald Trump. On January 21, 2020, as the impeachment trial unfolded, Bennett posted, "Officially a @JasonCrowCO6 fan." Representative Jason Crow of Colorado voted in favor of impeachment. Bennett added, "I’m a vet who also didn’t have the equipment I needed to do my job, so this is personal for me too. #ImpeachmentTrial." This post has also been taken down.

Fox News Digital reached out to Bennett’s campaign for comment on the deletions, but no explanation was provided. Notably, Bennett’s campaign announcement video does not mention her affiliation with the Democratic Party.

The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) was quick to seize on the deleted posts, accusing Bennett of attempting to conceal her true political leanings. NRCC spokeswoman Maureen O’Toole stated, "It’s clear Rebecca Bennett is desperately trying to run away from her past and cover up her radical, out of touch agenda. But New Jersey voters see right through her act and know exactly who she is: a radical scam artist who can’t be trusted."

In response to the NRCC’s criticism, Dan Bryan, senior advisor to the Bennett campaign, dismissed the attacks as recycled and made in bad faith by right-wing outlets. "It’s no surprise to see the NRCC and conservative news outlets start attacking Rebecca, because they know she is a serious threat to beat Congressman Tom Kean next November and flip NJ7," Bryan said. He added that Bennett’s campaign would focus on her record of service and Kean’s alleged failure to deliver for working families in the district. Bryan’s statement did not address the specific reasons for the removal of the social media posts.

This is not the first instance of a New Jersey Democrat running for Congress facing scrutiny over deleted social media activity. Sue Altman, who ran against Kean in 2024, previously faced criticism for deleting posts critical of law enforcement.

The race in New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District is expected to be closely contested in the upcoming midterm elections, particularly given the narrow majority Republicans currently hold in the House of Representatives. The GOP currently controls 220 seats, while the Democrats hold 215. The outcome of this race could have significant implications for the balance of power in Congress.

The deleted social media posts have created a narrative challenge for Bennett. While attempting to appeal to moderate voters in a Republican-leaning district, she must also contend with questions about her authenticity and whether she is genuinely committed to the values she now espouses. Her response to these questions will likely play a significant role in shaping voters’ perceptions of her candidacy and ultimately influencing the outcome of the election.