Kean Sets Return Date After Months-Long Absence, Raising Questions in Key New Jersey Race

Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-NJ) is expected to return to Congress on June 30 following a months-long absence that has fueled speculation in Washington and concern among Republicans fighting to maintain a narrow majority in the House.
According to a spokesperson for his office, Kean will return to Capitol Hill at the end of the month and plans to explain the medical condition that has kept him away from public duties for much of the spring.
Kean, 57, represents New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District and comes from one of the state’s most recognizable political families. His father, Tom Kean Sr., served as New Jersey governor from 1982 to 1990. Before winning his congressional seat, the younger Kean spent years serving in the state legislature.
Questions surrounding Kean’s status intensified after he stopped appearing for votes in Congress. His last recorded vote came in early March. Since then, the congressman has offered only limited information, saying he was dealing with an unspecified medical issue.
In a May 21 interview with the New Jersey Globe, Kean said he intended to seek re-election and expected to return both to congressional duties and campaign activities “in the next couple of weeks.” He also said that his doctors were confident he was “on the road to a full recovery.”
The congressman’s political standing appeared unchanged within his party. Earlier this month, President Donald Trump included Kean in a series of endorsements posted on Truth Social, and Kean went on to win his Republican primary race without opposition.
Still, the continued uncertainty surrounding his absence has created challenges for Republicans. With Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) often relying on razor-thin margins to pass legislation, every vote matters. Kean’s prolonged absence has left the GOP with one less member available during critical votes.
The situation has also raised political concerns in New Jersey’s 7th District, which is widely viewed as competitive. Republicans worry that months without a visible incumbent have given Democrats an opportunity to build momentum heading into the general election.
Democrats recently nominated former Navy helicopter pilot Rebecca Bennett as their candidate in the district. Bennett has already begun criticizing Kean’s record and absence from office.
Kean spokesperson Harrison Nealy told The New York Times that the congressman will return on June 30 and will provide a full explanation regarding his condition at that time.
“As the congressman has previously stated, upon his return he will be fully transparent about this medical condition,” Nealy said. “You’ll hear from him in person on the 30th.”
The Times noted that previous statements from Kean’s office had suggested his return was near, but this marks the first time a specific date has been publicly announced.
According to the newspaper, Kean has missed 135 floor votes during his absence.
Bennett, responding to a request for comment from the Times, argued that Kean’s problems with the district predated his disappearance from public view. “He has been failing this district long before he went missing,” she said, adding that Democrats intend to hold him accountable for his record.
Meanwhile, some local Republicans have expressed frustration over the lack of information. Sussex County GOP Chairman Joe LaBarbera said the prolonged absence has allowed Bennett to gain traction without facing an active opponent. He argued that Kean now faces the challenge of overcoming what he described as the significant head start Democrats have built during his time away.
As Kean prepares to return, both voters and colleagues are waiting for answers about an absence that has become a growing political issue in one of New Jersey’s most closely watched congressional races.