Tom Kean Jr. Breaks Silence After Weeks Without Voting in Congress

Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. of New Jersey has not voted in Congress in weeks, prompting questions about when he will return to Capitol Hill as he faces a competitive race for reelection and as Speaker Mike Johnson oversees an extremely narrow House majority.

“said his weeks-long absence from Capitol Hill is because of a medical issue”

CBS News

CNN reported that the last time Kean voted in the House was on March 5, according to congressional records, and that Kean attributed his absence to a health-related issue without providing specifics.

CBS News

Kean said in a statement posted to X that he wanted to thank constituents and colleagues for their patience while he addressed “a personal medical issue,” adding that “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.”

CBS News similarly said Kean went weeks without addressing the absence, but that he posted a statement on social media Monday, writing, “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.”

People reported that Kean addressed his prolonged absence for the first time in a statement through his campaign on Tuesday, April 28, citing “a personal medical issue” and saying, “I expect to return to a full schedule and be at 100 percent.”

The reporting also placed Kean’s age at 57 and described his district as New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District, which CBS News said encompasses Hunterdon and Warren counties, along with parts of Morris, Somerset, Sussex and Union.

Across outlets, Kean’s public explanation centered on a “personal medical issue” and his doctors’ assurances that he would recover and return to work soon, but he did not provide details about the condition.

CNN quoted Kean’s statement posted to X: “I want to thank my constituents and colleagues for their patience as I address a personal medical issue,” and it added, “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.”

CNN

In the same reporting, Kean said he expected to be back at work soon but “has not said exactly when he plans to return,” leaving the timing unclear.

CBS News likewise said Kean did not disclose what kind of medical issue he is dealing with, while also noting that his staff has been keeping up with legislative work and constituent services during his absence.

People reported that Kean’s statement was issued through his campaign on Tuesday, April 28, and that he wrote, “I expect to return to a full schedule and be at 100 percent.”

The CNN and People accounts both tied Kean’s absence to the pressure of a narrow House majority and a jam-packed agenda, including “funding the Department of Homeland Security amid a shutdown of the agency” and “reauthorizing a government surveillance program set to soon expire.”

Speaker Mike Johnson and other lawmakers framed Kean’s absence as a health matter while emphasizing expectations that he would return.

“By Camila DeChalus, CNN (CNN) — Republican Rep”

KION Central Coast

CNN reported that Johnson told CNN he spoke to Kean and expects Kean “to be back to 100% very soon,” adding, “Tom is one of the most dedicated and hardest working Members of Congress, and I am grateful for all he does and will continue to do to serve New Jerseyans and our country.”

The mezha.net reprint of CNN content similarly quoted Johnson as saying, “Tom is one of the most disciplined and hardworking members of Congress, and I am grateful for all he does and will continue to do to serve the people of New Jersey and our country.”

CNN also quoted South Carolina GOP Rep. Ralph Norman saying, “Absence is always an issue, given the slim majority … Every seat matters,” linking Kean’s absence to the House’s tight arithmetic.

For sympathy from the other side of the aisle, CNN quoted GOP Rep. Mike Lawler of New York saying, “You do have some level of privacy when it comes to your healthcare … and he expects a full recovery, and so we look forward to welcoming him back.”

CNN further reported that Republican Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey called Kean “a fine member who deserves to be reelected,” and Smith said, “I’m sure he’s got very legitimate reason.”

The reporting tied Kean’s absence to the House’s narrow margin and to a schedule of votes and priorities that could be affected by missing members.

CNN described Republicans holding “an extremely narrow House majority” and said the agenda included “funding the Department of Homeland Security amid a shutdown of the agency” and “reauthorizing a government surveillance program set to soon expire.”

mezha.net

People reported that the House is tightly divided and that “five vacancies” existed, with Republicans counting 217 members plus independent California Rep. Kevin Kiley in their majority to Democrats’ 212.

CBS News stated that Kean has missed “more than 50 roll call votes since then” after his last vote on March 5, and it said there are currently “217 republicans, 212 democrats, one independent and five vacancies in the House.”

CNN and People both described Kean’s district as a major political target, with CNN saying the Cook Political Report rated it a “toss up” and that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee named it one of its “districts in play” for the 2026 midterms.

People added that the House had turnover with “three members resigned and one died in April alone,” and it listed vacancies created by deaths of “80-year-old Georgia Rep.David Scott” on April 22 and “65-year-old California Rep.Doug LaMalfa” in January.

Even as Kean promised to return “very soon” and to be “at 100 percent,” the sources emphasized that his exact return date remained unknown and that his absence had been difficult to verify publicly.

CNN said he “has not said exactly when he plans to return,” and it described that the New Jersey Republican Party did not respond to CNN’s request for comment.

NJ

People reported that when The New York Times sent a reporter to Kean’s New Jersey home on Monday, April 27, “no one answered the door,” and it said neighbors either declined to comment or said they typically would not have noticed his absence from the block.

People also said the Westfield, N.J., police department told The Times that no emergency calls had been made to Kean’s home since the start of March.

Looking ahead, the sources placed Kean’s return in the context of his campaign schedule and the political calendar, including his primary on June 2 and the fact that he is currently the only Republican candidate running while four Democrats are competing for his seat.

CNN said Johnson expects Kean “to be back to 100% very soon,” while Kean said, “I expect to return to a full schedule and be at 100 percent,” framing the next step as resuming full participation in votes and legislative work.