Lawmaker ‘missing’ for over 100 days blasted for claiming ‘transparency’ after mysterious absence
New Jersey Representative Tom Kean Jr faced a pointed opening question about his months-long mental health absence in Sunday’s first and only televised debate with Democratic challenger Rebecca Bennett.
Moderator David Wildstein immediately asked Kean whether he had made the ‘responsible’ decision by not telling his constituents sooner about the mental-health struggles that kept him out of Congress for 116 days earlier this year.
Kean, a Republican seeking reelection in New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District, defended his decision not to disclose his depression diagnosis earlier, insisting that his absence stemmed from a medical emergency.
‘Nobody can plan a medical emergency and that was a medical emergency,’ Kean said.
He maintained that his office had kept his constituents informed that he was receiving medical treatment and said he had been transparent about his diagnosis when he eventually spoke publicly about his depression.
‘I’m glad you got access to the treatment you needed,’ Bennett told Kean.
Kean’s prolonged absence also raised questions within his own Republican Party.
Former New Jersey Attorney General John J Farmer Jr said in late May that Kean was a ‘public figure running for reelection’ and should be ‘as transparent as he can be with the public.’
Many of Rebecca Bennett, the Democratic candidate in the US Congressional District 7 race’s jabs were aimed at Republican candidate Tom Kean, Jr’s loyalty to President Trump based on his voting record
Kean, who is seeking reelection in New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District, defended his decision not to disclose his depression diagnosis earlier, insisting that his absence stemmed from a medical emergency
House Speaker Mike Johnson took a sympathetic view of Kean’s absence, saying on June 3 that ‘people are entitled to get sick’ and that Kean’s situation was ‘not a scandalous thing at all’
New Jersey Republican state Senator Jon Bramnick also acknowledged the concern surrounding Kean’s disappearance, saying Kean’s absence was ‘a big deal’ as voters asked where their congressman was.
But House Speaker Mike Johnson took a more sympathetic view, saying on June 3 that ‘people are entitled to get sick’ and that Kean’s situation was ‘not a scandalous thing at all.’
Johnson also said he knew the nature of Kean’s health issue but would respect Kean’s request not to disclose it.
Rather than questioning his decision to seek treatment, Bennett used the moment to pivot toward one of her central arguments of the campaign, Kean’s support for Trump’s agenda.
But the debate also highlighted several issues where Kean sought to distinguish himself from Trump.
One of the clearest breaks came over a proposed ICE detention facility in Roxbury, located in Kean’s district.
A vacant 470,000-square-foot warehouse was purchased by federal officials back in February for $129.3 million.
The state and Roxbury Township have taken the fight to federal court, filing multiple lawsuits and seeking injunctions to halt the conversion, triggering an ongoing legal battle and pauses in construction.
The debate highlighted several issues where Kean sought to distinguish himself from Trump, like opposing The Gateway rail tunnel project
Kean said his focus is, ‘to make sure we don’t have an ICE facility in Roxbury.’ A 470,000 square-foot-warehouse was purchased by federal officials in hopes of turning it into an ICE facility, which has since been held up in court
An Insider NJ/StimSight Research survey, conducted September 8-12 among 498 likely voters, found Bennett at 47 percent to Kean’s 42 percent
Asked about the controversial facility, Kean said, ‘My focus is to make sure we don’t have an ICE facility in Roxbury.’
Bennett immediately seized on the statement, saying, ‘This is the first time we have heard Congressman Tom Kean Jr actually be explicit about his position on the detention facility in Roxbury. So thank you for telling us where you stand finally.’
Kean also pointed to his disagreements with Trump over funding for the Gateway rail tunnel project, arguing that he has demonstrated a willingness to challenge the president when he believes New Jersey’s interests are at stake.
The Gateway rail tunnel project is a roughly $16 billion effort to build a new rail tunnel beneath the Hudson River and repair the century-old tunnels linking New Jersey with New York, and it relies heavily on federal funding.
But on several of Trump’s signature policies, Kean was much more supportive.
He defended his vote for Trump’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill,’ arguing that its tax cuts would benefit the economy.
Bennett attacked the legislation over its healthcare provisions and its effect on the national debt.
Kean also defended Trump’s tariffs, arguing that they were justified and that the president should have broad authority to use them as leverage against other countries.
On Iran, Kean backed Trump’s military action, arguing that Iran could not be permitted to obtain a nuclear weapon, while Bennett countered that the war was making the United States ‘less safe and less secure’ and questioned whether there was a clear objective or exit strategy.
Kean was also strongly supportive of Israel, defending its actions, while Bennett took a more critical position toward the Israeli government’s conduct.
Bennett has opened up a five-point lead over Republican Congressman Tom Kean Jr. in New Jersey’s closely watched 7th Congressional District, according to the latest poll of likely voters.
The Insider NJ/StimSight Research survey, conducted September 8-12 among 498 likely voters, found Bennett at 47 percent to Kean’s 42 percent.
