SOMERSET - Retired Navy helicopter pilot Rebecca Bennett tonight snagged the backing of the Somerset County Democratic Committee, with a strong victory over her CD-7 rivals.

"The Trump Administration is destroying our democracy, enriching themselves, and making our probs worse," Bennett told the packed room in the sprawling hall of the Ukrainian Cultural Center. "Tom Kean, Jr. is a coward and he is complicit. We are going to hold him accountable in November."

That remark won considerable applause.

Somerset County Democratic Chair Peg Schaffer laid out the stakes in this battleground election district.

"Tonight, even though many of us say it's all about the courthouse - and it is we want to hold onto Somerset County, our leaders have done a phenomenal job - but this year, taking back the Congress is really more important," Schaffer said. "Our democracy clearly is at stake."

Bennett also racked up the support of the Union County Democratic Committee earlier in the evening.

In Somerset, Bennett won 80 county committee votes.

Brian Varela came in a distant second with 29 votes.

Michael Roth: 25.

Megan O'Rourke and Tina Shah trailed.