NJ Rep. Tom Kean Jr. Returns After Month-Long Absence, Cites Medical Leave

New Jersey Representative Tom Kean Jr. has finally addressed the public regarding his multiweek absence from Congress.

“I want to thank my constituents and colleagues for their patience as I address a personal medical issue,” Kean said in a statement posted on X Monday evening. “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.”

Kean added, “I take my responsibilities seriously and have a strong record of showing up and delivering, which makes this absence all the more difficult.” He thanked his congressional team for maintaining office operations despite his prolonged absence and expressed gratitude for the “patience” of his colleagues in the lower chamber.

Kean hasn’t voted on a single bill since March 5. Until Monday, neither Kean nor his staff had explained his absence to constituents, despite mounting concerns from his own party.

Pressure from Colleagues Forces Response

Members of his own party initiated a small pressure campaign to compel Kean to speak. Fellow New Jersey Republicans Chris Smith and Jeff Van Drew were unable to contact him. Van Drew told Politico last week that it had been “radio silence” from their colleague.

New York Republicans also struggled to reach Kean, while other GOP members—such as Representative Don Bacon—were unaware of his absence until they couldn’t locate him on the House floor.

“I was looking for him,” Bacon said last week. “I didn’t know it was that long.”

These efforts culminated in a call between Kean and House Speaker Mike Johnson, who revealed late last week that Kean had been dealing with an unspecified “personal health matter.”

Political Implications Ahead of 2024 Election

Kean was elected to represent New Jersey’s 7th congressional district in 2022 and is months away from a contentious midterm reelection cycle. He currently faces no opposition in the state’s Republican primary, scheduled for June 2, but is expected to face significant Democratic challenges in November.

According to an analysis by the Cook Political Report, New Jersey’s 7th congressional district has shifted from a “lean Republican” advantage to a “total toss-up.”