As RedState reported, Republican Rep. Thomas Kean Jr.. (NJ-07) has been MIA from Congress since March 5, without explanation. His colleagues, Republican Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), and Rep. Jeff Van Drew (NJ-02) reportedly had called and texted Kean, but never received a response. House GOP leadership was also radio silent on Kean's absence.
Politico: Rep. Tom Kean Jr. represents New Jersey’s most competitive district this November — but nobody, even his GOP colleagues, can say where he’s been for the past month.
— Politics & Poll Tracker 📡 (@PollTracker2024) April 22, 2026
Rep. Tom Kean Jr.'s team said the absence is due to unspecified health issues. The New Jersey Republican…
Politico: Rep. Tom Kean Jr. represents New Jersey’s most competitive district this November — but nobody, even his GOP colleagues, can say where he’s been for the past month.
Rep. Tom Kean Jr.'s team said the absence is due to unspecified health issues. The New Jersey Republican hasn’t voted since March 5 and has missed almost 50 roll call votes.
That silence has been broken. On Friday, House Speaker Mike Johnson (LA-4) said in a statement reported on Friday that he was able to raise Kean on the phone.
Speaker Johnson said in a statement provided to ABC News that he spoke to Kean by phone on Thursday, and that he is dealing with an unspecified "personal health matter."
"I was happy to speak to Tom Kean, Jr. this afternoon by phone. He is attending to a personal health matter and expects 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," Johnson said.
Noelle Berriet, Kean's congressional spokeswoman, did not reply to multiple inquiries asking about the congressman missing votes.
Harrison Neely, a strategist for Kean, told ABC News on Friday, "The congressman is dealing with a personal medical issue. He's going to be 100% fine and he's going to be back with a full schedule soon."
Neely did not share when Kean would return to Congress.
We wish him speedy healing, especially with the GOP majority on a razor's edge. Kean is also in a tough battle to retain his seat, and Decision Desk HQ projects that he could be easily picked off.
The most well-educated swing seat in the country is New Jersey’s 7th District, where 56% of the population has at least a bachelor’s degree. Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. has won two close races here, but he faces a tough fight in a blue-leaning midterm year in a seat Trump only carried by 1 point in 2024. Regardless of whom Democrats nominate from a busy primary field, this race will be wildly expensive. After all, the North Jersey seat sits entirely within the ultra-expensive New York City media market.
The New Jersey GOP and Speaker Johnson are projecting weakness on this matter, by not knowing why Kean was absent and when he plans to return. Had it not been for legacy media outlets pointing out Kean's absence and speculating on Kean's stock purchases in the midst of his absence, this may have remained a mystery and something Democrats could twist to their advantage. With no clear date on when Kean plans to return to Congress, and Kean's anemic social media posts about Earth Day and funding for NJ-7 community projects, the GOP and Kean are not building confidence.
The New Jersey midterm primary is slated for June 2.
Editor’s Note: The 2026 Midterms will determine the fate of President Trump’s America First agenda. Republicans must maintain control of both chambers of Congress.
Help RedState continue to report on the Democrats’ radicalism and inform voters as our nation faces a crossroads. Join RedState VIP and use promo code FIGHT to receive 60% off your membership.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member