Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. of New Jersey has not voted in Congress in weeks, sparking questions over when he’ll return to Capitol Hill as he faces a aggressive race for reelection again dwelling and Speaker Mike Johnson oversees an extremely narrow House majority in Washington.
The congressman has attributed his absence to a health-related difficulty, with out offering specifics. He has mentioned he expects to be again at work quickly, however has not mentioned precisely when he plans to return. The final time Kean voted in the House was on March 5, based on congressional information.
“I want to thank my constituents and colleagues for their patience as I address a personal medical issue,” Kean mentioned in an announcement posted to X earlier this week. “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.”
Kean’s prolonged time away from Capitol Hill comes as Republicans maintain a traditionally slim House majority and have a jam-packed agenda, with legislative priorities starting from funding the Department of Homeland Security amid a shutdown of the company to reauthorizing a authorities surveillance program set to quickly expire.
“Absence is always an issue, given the slim majority … Every seat matters,” South Carolina GOP Rep. Ralph Norman mentioned.
Kean, 57, can also be operating for reelection in a district rated a “toss up” by the Cook Political Report. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the marketing campaign arm for House Democrats, has named it one of its “districts in play” for the 2026 midterms.
Johnson mentioned in an announcement to NCS he spoke to Kean and mentioned he expects Kean “to be back to 100% very soon.”
“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,” he mentioned.
The congressman has represented New Jersey’s seventh Congressional District since 2023. His main is June 2 and he’s at present the one Republican candidate operating, however there are 4 Democrats vying for his seat.
GOP Rep. Mike Lawler, who represents a aggressive district in New York, expressed sympathy for Kean’s state of affairs.
“Over the course of my time in Congress, I’ve seen a number of members on both sides of the aisle who unfortunately have different ailments. Some, you know, have unfortunately passed away from those ailments,” he instructed NCS.
He continued: “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.”
In his assertion earlier this week, Kean mentioned, “I expect to return to a full schedule and be at 100 percent. I take my responsibilities seriously and have a strong record of showing up and delivering, which makes this absence all the more difficult.”
“I am especially proud of my Congressional team, who have kept constituent services and legislative work moving forward without interruption, and my political team for ensuring the campaign continues to run strong,” he mentioned.
Republican Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey known as the congressman “a fine member who deserves to be reelected.”
“I’m sure he’s got very legitimate reason,” Smith instructed NCS, in regard to Kean’s health-related difficulty.
The New Jersey Republican Party didn’t reply to NCS’s request for remark.