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Kean’s absence, Trump’s push
Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr., 57, has not been seen in Washington or his New Jersey hometown for months and has missed more than 100 votes since his last vote on March 5, as President Donald Trump renewed his endorsement for Kean’s reelection ahead of the Garden State’s primary Tuesday.
Trump wrote on social media “GET OUT AND VOTE FOR TOM — HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!” while also saying Kean is “working tirelessly” for his “America First Agenda.”
Kean’s office has defended his hiatus by saying he is addressing a “personal health matter” and that he plans to disclose details later, with a Kean spokesman telling ABC Tuesday that he is “focused on his recovery.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson said he “doesn't even know the details” of Kean’s medical issue, while ABC reported Kean told the New Jersey Globe on May 21 that his prognosis is positive with “no expected long-term effects or chronic health complications.”
Voters seek answers
New Jersey voters and state lawmakers have been asking where Kean is, with Steve McCabe, an 80-year-old retired lawyer, telling Jon Bramnick, a GOP state senator, “What's the word?” about Kean’s unexplained medical absence.
PBS reported Kean has missed more than 100 votes in Congress and has not been spotted in Washington or in his district, while Kean’s campaign consultant Harrison Neely said the congressman was dealing with a medical emergency and promised he would return to a full schedule “very soon.”
In the same PBS account, House Speaker Mike Johnson said, “We're expecting him back here soon,” and that Kean “is going to be fully transparent.”
The BBC framed the situation as a national curiosity, noting Kean “has not been seen in Washington or his New Jersey hometown for months,” and quoting Kean’s April statement 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.”
A competitive seat at risk
Kean’s district, New Jersey’s 7th, is rated as a toss-up by the Cook Political Report and is expected to be a top target for Democrats as they try to retake control of Congress in November.
The Hill reported that while Kean is running unopposed in the June 2 GOP primary, four Democrats—Rebecca Bennett, Michael Roth, Tina Shah and Brian Varela—are squaring off for the chance to challenge him in the general election.
ABC said Kean does not face any challengers in the June 2 Republican primary, and it also reported that Kean’s district is expected to be a top target for Democrats, with Johnson believing Kean will be re-elected this November “because he comes from a long history, a legacy in his family of faithful public service.”
The Hill added that the general election projects to be close, citing Kean’s 2022 win over Tom Malinowski by 2.8 points and his 2024 win over Sue Altman by 5.4 points, while also noting the Cook Political Report rating of the race as a “Toss Up.”
