New Jersey Republican Representative Tom Kean, Jr., who has missed nearly 50 roll call votes since early March, broke his silence Monday in a statement explaining his absence as a “personal medical issue.”
The two-term congressman has not voted since March 5, prompting concern from colleagues in both parties—and questions from his New Jersey GOP colleagues, who told Politico last week they had not heard from him despite repeated calls and texts.
Newsweek reached out to Kean’s office via email on Monday for additional comment.
Why It Matters
Kean’s absence has drawn outsized attention because of his political position. He represents New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District—a large area across the northern and central part of the state that includes Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster—and his seat is among the most competitive in the country. President Donald Trump narrowly carried the district, by 1 point, in the 2024 election, but Democratic former Representative Mikie Sherrill carried it by nearly 2 points in the 2025 governor’s race. Kean himself won the district by around 5 points in 2024.
The political environment around Kean’s absence has only intensified the questions. The Trump administration is opening an immigration detention facility in his district while pulling funding for a major infrastructure project for New Jersey commuters—both of which have created political pressure on Kean ahead of the November election. A competitive Democratic primary with four prominent candidates is already underway to challenge him.
Who Is Tom Kean, Jr.?
Kean is serving his second term, where he sits on the House Energy and Commerce and Foreign Affairs Committees, according to his official biography on the U.S. House of Representatives website. The congressman represents more than 775,000 New Jersey residents and has focused on healthcare access, infrastructure, innovation and education.
A scion of one of New Jersey’s most prominent political dynasties, Kean comes from a family with deep ties to state politics. He began his career in public service as an appointee to the Environmental Protection Agency under President George H.W. Bush—where he met his wife, Rhonda—and later worked as a legislative staffer in the Washington office of New Jersey Congressman Bob Franks.
Kean was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly in 2001 and to the New Jersey Senate two years later, where he served 14 years as Republican leader. During his state legislative tenure, he served on Budget and Appropriations, Commerce, Judiciary, Higher Education and Health and Human Services Committees, and built a reputation as a bipartisan consensus-builder. He helped lead efforts on property tax relief, education investment and economic development, and was credited with helping create New Jersey’s brewpub industry.
Kean is a graduate of Dartmouth College and attended the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, where he earned a master’s degree in law and diplomacy. He completed his doctoral studies All But Dissertation (ABD) at Fletcher and lives in Westfield, New Jersey, with his wife and their two daughters.
What Kean Said
Kean posted his statement to his X account Monday afternoon, marking the first detailed public explanation of his absence. “I want to thank my constituents and colleagues for their patience as I address a personal medical issue. My doctors continue to assure me that my recovery will be complete and that I will be back to the job I love very soon. I expect to return to a full schedule and be at 100 percent.”
The congressman also acknowledged the difficulty of being away. “I take my responsibilities seriously and have a strong record of showing up and delivering, which makes this absence all the more difficult. I am especially proud of my Congressional team, who have kept constituent services and legislative work moving forward without interruption, and my political team for ensuring the campaign continues to run strong.”
Kean thanked his colleagues across the aisle as well. “I also want to thank my friends and colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their patience and understanding during this time. I appreciate your support and look forward to being back in the near future.”
Kean did not specify the nature of the medical issue or provide a return date.
Colleagues Had Been Left in the Dark
The Republican’s statement comes nearly a week after Politico reported that even his closest GOP colleagues did not know where he was. The other two Republicans in the New Jersey delegation, Representatives Chris Smith and Jeff Van Drew, told the outlet they had called and texted Kean out of concern for his health but had not heard back. Van Drew described the communications as “radio silence.”
Several New York Republicans who had worked with Kean on key issues said similarly that they had not heard from him, according to Politico. GOP leaders had not addressed the issue with the conference. Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska told the outlet he hadn’t even realized Kean was missing until he tried to find him on the House floor.
“I was looking for him,” Bacon said. “I didn’t know it was that long.”
Kean consultant Harrison Neely told Politico last week that the congressman and his family appreciated the well wishes and that “he will be back on a regular full schedule very soon.” Union County GOP Chair Carlos Santos told the outlet he had been texting with Kean and was told the congressman would “be fine and make a full recovery in the next couple weeks.”
Democrats in the New Jersey delegation said they too had been concerned. “It’s been a long absence,” New Jersey Democratic Representative Rob Menendez told the outlet last week. “I hope he’s doing all right. But I haven’t heard anything.”
What Happens Next
Kean did not provide a specific date for his return in Monday’s statement, saying only that he expects to return “very soon.”
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