Rep. Thomas Kean Jr. (R-NJ) said in a Tuesday statement that he will return to in-person work after a prolonged absence on Capitol Hill due to an unspecified health issue in a “matter of weeks.”
Kean, who is running unopposed in New Jersey‘s GOP primary for the state’s 7th Congressional District on Tuesday, said in his statement that he is “more energized than ever” to fight for the district.
“Right now I am focused on my recovery and under the advice of healthcare professionals, I will transition from virtual work to in person work within a matter of weeks,” the 57-year-old lawmaker wrote. “At that time I will be completely transparent as to the nature of my medical condition.”
Kean has missed over 100 votes in the House since March 5, during which very few details have been shared by the congressman’s office about his health. The congressman told the New Jersey Globe on May 21 that he expected to make a full recovery and would be back on Capitol Hill in the “next couple of weeks.”
Kean has represented the district since 2023 and is seeking his third term in Congress. However, the New Jersey Republican’s absence has sparked GOP worry over whether he will be able to maintain his seat in November. Kean is seeking his third term in Congress in one of the most competitive seats in the nation that will be crucial to the GOP’s effort to hold its House majority.
There is an avenue for Kean to drop out post-primary, should he need to. Under New Jersey election law, any post-primary vacancy is filled by the local GOP committee leaders. However, Kean and House GOP leadership have maintained that he is able to run for reelection, with the congressman telling the New Jersey Globe, “I’m running.”
Four Democrats are vying to take on the Republican lawmaker in November: Rebecca Bennett, a healthcare business executive and former Navy pilot; Michael Roth, a former Biden official; Tina Shah, a physician and former Obama and Biden adviser; and Brian Varela, the chairman of the Morris County Democratic Party Hispanic Caucus.
During a primary debate on May 30, Shah said that while she hopes Kean “is going to get to that path of recovery,” Kean’s absence is part of a “history of just avoiding reaching out to his constituents.”
“He has unfortunately missed two months’ worth of work, and what we are being assured is that his team is carrying the torch. But we elected Tom Kean Jr., not his team,” Shah said. “We want to see a representative who’s able to communicate to us, even though he’s human, and he is allowed to deal with his own personal medical issues. But this is not that.”
“Tina Shah, Brian Varela, Rebecca Bennett, and Michael Roth want to make New Jersey even more expensive and risk families’ safety with their radical left pipe dreams. Whichever out of touch Democrat comes out of the primary will be in for a rude awakening: New Jerseyans have no interest in their radical agenda, and voters are fired up to reelect Tom Kean, Jr. in November,” National Republican Congressional Committee spokeswoman Maureen O’Toole said in a statement to the Washington Examiner.
President Donald Trump endorsed Kean in a Monday night Truth Social post, saying Kean is a “Tremendous Advocate of our America First Agenda.”
He continued, “Tom is working tirelessly to Keep our Border SECURE, Stop Migrant Crime, Grow our Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Champion Small Business, Unleash American Energy DOMINANCE, Support our Brave Military and Veterans, and Protect our always under siege Second Amendment.”
While Kean himself has been absent since March, his social accounts have remained active, and the congressman has certified several stock trades made on his behalf. He has also signed off on “gift travel” expenses for his staff, according to NOTUS.
NEW JERSEY’S TOM KEAN HASN’T VOTED IN CONGRESS SINCE MARCH. HE’S ABOUT TO BE RENOMINATED
In his Tuesday statement, Kean said he appreciated “all of the prayers and patience from my constituents and colleagues.”
“I understand the need for transparency on this matter and I look forward to sharing my experience with the public,” Kean wrote.