Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-N.J.) has vanished from Capitol Hill and colleagues have not heard from the two-term congressman who lasted voted on March 5, Politico reported Wednesday.
Kean’s team told the outlet that he has unspecified health issues, but even fellow Republicans in the New Jersey delegation have been unable to contact him, the outlet noted.
GOP Reps. Jeff Van Drew and Chris Smith have reached out to Kean to check on his welfare, only to be met with “radio silence,” Van Drew said. Ditto for Republicans in the New York delegation, Politico wrote.
Kean consultant Harrison Neely told the site that Kean “will be back on a regular full schedule very soon.” Union County GP Chair Carlos Santos said, “I don’t even know the truth myself” yet indicated he was texting with Kean “and was told he’ll be fine.”
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HuffPost reached out to Kean’s office for comment.
It remains to be seen how the secrecy around his absence will impact the political scion, whose father, Tom Kean, served as Jersey governor from 1982 to 1990.
If Kean’s health is precarious, that may affect voting. The congressman is up for reelection and will face off against the winner of a June 2 Democratic primary in November.
Kean’s 7th district is leaning toward a “tossup” race, according to the Cook Partisan Voting Index as Republicans fight an uphill battle to hold on to the House.
The resignations of Reps. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.) in the last week leave the lower chamber with 218 Republican-aligned members to 213 Democrats, NPR reported.
HuffPost has reached out to Kean’s office for comment.
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Read the full Politico report here.
