Republican Tom Kean Jr. will be the newest member of Congress for New Jersey.

Kean defeated Democratic Rep. Tom Malinowski in the hotly contested 7th District race.

Malinowski issued a statement Wednesday morning saying that although he expects the numbers to tighten, Kean’s lead is too much to overcome, and he conceded the race.

Kean issued his own statement thanking Malinowski for his public service and their vigorous campaign.

Republican state Sen. Jon Bramnick was Kean's running mate in the state Legislature. He predicts Kean will not be an extremist Republican.

“We can't be election deniers. We can't be Trump Republicans,” Bramnick says. “We have to be New Jersey Republicans, which are fiscally conservative right and not crazy.”

Bramnick has been one of the New Jersey Republican leaders most vocally critical of former President Donald Trump and his brand of politics. He says Republicans could have done better than flipping just one New Jersey congressional seat.

“Until we change that brand, we’re not going to win swing districts,” Bramnick says.

After his son's victory speech, former Gov. Tom Kean Sr. offered his assessment of what he expects from his son in Washington.

“He’ll do it right. He’ll do it honestly. He’ll represent the people of this district very, very well,” Gov. Kean said.

Malinowski will serve until the new Congress takes office in January. He says saying the newly redrawn district that includes more Republican areas cost him his re-election campaign.