House Republican who has been absent from Congress plans to return ‘very soon’
Republican Rep. Thomas Kean Jr. of New Jersey, who has missed a vote in the House for more than a month, has broken his silence on his extended absence from Capitol Hill.
In a statement sent On Monday at X, Kean said he expected to return to the Capitol “very soon” because he was dealing with a “personal medical issue.”
“My doctors continue to reassure me that my recovery will be complete and that I will return to the job I love very soon. I expect to be back on full schedule and 100 percent ready,” he said.
“I take my responsibilities seriously and have a strong track record of coming to work and delivering, which makes this absence even more difficult,” Kean said. he said.
Kean, 57, cast his last vote on March 5. He has missed 50 roll call votes since then.
While House Speaker Mike Johnson holds a narrow majority, a Republican member’s prolonged absence could impact the laws he must pass and President Donald Trump’s ability to move his agenda.
Johnson is currently trying to pass the Department of Homeland Security funding and farm bill, a long-term extension of FISA; All of this is based on Republican votes. Any party can only afford to lose two votes on its bill, and that’s if all members are present and vote.
Johnson told ABC News that he spoke to Kean on the phone last Thursday and that he was dealing with an unspecified “personal health matter.”
Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images – PHOTO: Representative Thomas Kean Jr. arrives at the House Republican Conference caucus meeting at the U.S. Capitol on March 4, 2026.
“I had the pleasure of speaking by phone with Tom Kean Jr. this afternoon. He is dealing with a personal health issue and expects to be back to 100% very soon. Tom is one of the most dedicated and hard-working members of Congress, and I am grateful for everything he has done and will continue to do to serve New Jerseyans and our country,” Johnson said.
Kean, who was first elected in 2022, faces a tough re-election campaign this year. Republicans are trying to maintain majority control of Congress in this year’s midterm elections; It’s a cycle that has historically been unfavorable to the president’s party.
His district, New Jersey’s 7th district, is rated poor by the Cook Political Report and is expected to be a top target for Democrats. Kean is not facing any challengers in the Republican primary scheduled for June 2.
