Congressman Tom Kean Jr. Missing from Capitol
WASHINGTON — New Jersey Congressman Tom Kean Jr. has been absent from Capitol Hill for almost two months, with his team citing vague “health issues” as the reason.
Mr. Kean (R-N.J.) is, interestingly, considered the most at-risk Republican in New Jersey’s congressional delegation. His last recorded vote was on March 5, since which he has missed over 40 votes.
On Wednesday, Kean shared on social media that two of his bills successfully passed out of committee. However, he wasn’t actually present at the Capitol on that day to cast a vote.
The newspaper reached out to his office for more information.
According to Kean’s team, as reported by Politico, he is dealing with unspecified health concerns. Yet, fellow New Jersey representatives have mentioned they haven’t heard from the 57-year-old at all.
The mystery surrounding Kean’s absence has raised alarm, especially as Congress is currently dealing with the health issues and deaths of several members, all while navigating a narrow partisan divide.
In the House of Representatives, there are now 217 Republicans, one independent who aligns with Republicans, 212 Democrats, and five empty seats.
Recently, Representative David Scott (D-Ga.), who was running for re-election, became the fifth congressional member to pass away while in office since early 2025.
Additionally, last month, President Trump disclosed that Rep. Neil Dunn (R-Florida), who is battling a terminal illness, is expected to not survive past June.
Kean’s colleagues, Representatives Chris Smith (R-N.J.) and Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.), shared with Politico that they have reached out to him to check on his status but described receiving no response—just “radio silence.”
“The congressman and his family appreciate all the goodwill and support,” said Kean’s consultant, Harrison Neely. “Please know he will be returning to his normal schedule soon.”
The House has been dealing with puzzling absenteeism that hasn’t really been in the spotlight. For example, in 2024, former Rep. Kay Granger (R-Texas) was absent for months and was later discovered to be in a memory care facility.
Kean’s absence is particularly concerning with the upcoming midterm elections in a competitive district.
Before this year, Kean had an almost flawless attendance record during his two terms in the House, according to Government Track data.
This razor-thin Republican majority complicates matters for GOP leaders, especially with challenging votes ahead, like the reauthorization of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
