New Jersey Rep. Tom Kean Returns to Congress After Months Away
7 verified5 unconfirmed
New Jersey Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. returned to the House floor on Tuesday after a nearly four-month absence. Kean had not been seen in Washington or his district since casting his last vote on March 5, fueling widespread speculation about his health. He stated that he was diagnosed with depression and had remained in a hospital to recover. Kean said he originally expected to be away for only a few weeks but learned there is no set timeline for recovery. His absence complicated Republican efforts to pass legislation with a narrow House majority. Kean won the GOP primary for his seat and will face Democratic nominee Rebecca Bennett in the November midterm election. Bennett had previously criticized his absence but expressed relief that he was well.
What’s verified
Kean was absent from Congress for nearly four months.
His last vote in the House was on March 5.
He missed numerous votes during that period.
House Speaker Mike Johnson confirmed he had spoken to Kean about an undisclosed medical issue.
Kean’s absence complicated Republican legislative efforts in a narrowly divided House.
He won the Republican primary for his seat and will face Democrat Rebecca Bennett in the general election.
Kean comes from a long line of New Jersey political figures, including his father, former Gov. Tom Kean Sr.
Not yet confirmed
Kean’s diagnosis of depression and his hospitalization are reported in only one source.
Former President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Kean is reported in only one source.
The specific number of votes missed (more than 100) is reported in only one source.
It remains unclear why Kean’s office did not provide details about his condition earlier.
The timeline for his ongoing recovery is not specified.
Key figures
Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-N.J.), Rebecca Bennett (Democratic nominee), Speaker Mike Johnson, former President Donald Trump, Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), former Gov. Tom Kean Sr., former Rep. Tom Malinowski.
Sources: NPR, abcnews.com
