A Republican congressman who has been missing from Capitol Hill for weeks has finally broken his silence on his disappearance, vowing to return ‘very soon.’
New Jersey Representative Tom Kean Jr, a Republican representing a competitive district in the Garden State, last voted on legislation on March 5. He has missed dozens of votes ever since.
The 57-year-old’s sudden disappearance sparked concern from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.
But in a statement posted to his campaign’s social media page on Monday evening, Kean explained that he has been dealing with an unspecified ‘personal medical issue’ that he expects to recover from.
‘My doctors continue to assure me that my recovery will be complete and that I will be back to the job I love very soon,’ Kean said in the statement. ‘I expect to return to a full schedule and be at 100 percent.
‘I take my responsibilities seriously and have a strong record of showing up and delivering, which makes this absence all the more difficult,’ he continued.
Kean did not list a specific illness as the reason for his absence.
He then thanked his Congressional team ‘who have kept constituent services and legislative work moving forward without interruption’ as well as his political team ‘for ensuring the campaign continues to run strong.’
‘I also want to thank my friends and colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their patience and understanding during this time,’ the congressman said. ‘I appreciate your support and look forward to being back in the near future.’
New Jersey Representative Tom Kean Jr, a Republican representing a competitive district in the Garden State, has not voted on Capitol Hill since March 5
He released a statement on Monday saying he is dealing with a ‘personal medical issue’
Kean, who comes from a family of political scions, is running for re-election in a highly-contested district where four prominent Democratic candidates are vying to run against him.
He won a seat in the House in 2024 when President Donald Trump carried his district by only one vote.
But the following year, former Democratic Representative Mikie Sherrill carried the district by nearly two points in the 2025 governors’ race.
Amid the race, fellow New Jersey Republicans expressed their concerns about Kean’s disappearance as the congressman’s office declined to publicly disclose the health issues he faced.
The fears about his well-being then grew last week as Congress saw multiple lawmakers fall ill or dying.
Since the current session of Congress began last January, five representatives have died, most recently Representative David Scott, a Democrat from Georgia.
Kean, who comes from a family of political scions, is running for re-election in a highly-contested district where four prominent Democratic candidates are vying to run against him
Last month, President Donald Trump also revealed that Representative Neal Dunn, a representative from Florida, is dying.
Of particular concern to Republicans is their 217 to 212 slim majority, which includes one independent caucusing with the GOP.
Losing just two seats could mean forfeiting the Republican majority and deadlocking on party-line votes.
Democrats could also tie up the Republican agenda for the remainder of the year if Dunn were to retire early and if liberals get an unexpected special election win this year.
But Kean’s backers insist his temporary absence will hardly be on voters’ minds when the election comes around in November.
‘Everyone understands from their own family experiences that people run into unexpected health issues,’ Bill Palatucci, a Republican National Committee member and attorney for the Kean campaign, told Politico.
‘Voters will be completely sympathetic, and it’s so early in the year that it will be long forgotten come the fall.’
Congressman Neal Dunn, 73, a Republican from Florida, has a terminal diagnosis
Republicans maintain only a slim majority in the House of Representatives
House Speaker Mike Johnson also did not seem worried when he addressed Kean’s disappearance on Thursday.
‘I was happy to speak to Tom Kean Jr this afternoon by phone. He is attending a personal health matter and expects to be back to 100 percent very soon,’ Johnson said.
‘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,’ he continued.
Kean’s father had previously served as New Jersey governor from 1982 through 1990, and his grandfather previously served in the House of Representatives as well.
His great-grandfather was a senator.
