Rep Tom Kean Jr remains absent from Congress as re-election battle looms
New Jersey congressman has been away for weeks
Chief Congressional reporter Chad Pergram discusses Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-N.J.)’s weeks-long absence from Congress and missing more than 50 votes since the beginning of March.
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Rep. Tom Kean Jr., the GOP lawmaker who has been absent from Washington for more than two months, will miss votes again this week, his office confirmed to Fox News Digital.
“Congressman Kean is still dealing with a personal health issue and we appreciate the support we have been provided,” Dan Scharfenberger, Kean’s chief of staff, said in a statement Monday. he said. “He will be back to his regular schedule soon.”
Kean, 57, did not specify when he plans to return to work or the nature of his health problem. His office had insisted for weeks that he would resume his congressional responsibilities “soon.”
The New Jersey Republican has not voted since March 5, according to GovTrack, a website that tracks congressional activity. During that time, he missed all 70 roll call votes in the lower house, including on legislation to end the government shutdown and expand a critical tool of warrantless surveillance.
Rep. Thomas Kean Jr., RN.J., arrives for a House Republican Conference caucus meeting at the U.S. Capitol on March 4, 2026. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc. via Getty Images)
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Kean’s absence has a major impact on House Republicans’ razor-thin majority because House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., can devote only a handful of votes to his party’s bills. Democrats have also struggled to maintain full turnout in recent weeks.
Johnson said he spoke to Kean on the phone in April and expected him to make a full recovery.
“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 in a statement obtained by Fox News Digital.
House Speaker Mike Johnson speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, on January 13, 2026. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
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Kean’s extended absence from Washington comes as he faces a potentially difficult re-election battle in one of the nation’s most controversial districts. The campaign arm of House Democrats is expected to aggressively target the swing seat, and four Democratic candidates are vying to defeat him in a crowded primary in June.
The New Jersey Republican has no opponent in the GOP and is running for a third term with the support of President Donald Trump.
The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates the contest as a “failure” after downgrading the race in favor of Democrats last year.
President Donald Trump has endorsed Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr.’s re-election bid. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP)
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Kean’s office continued to post on social media until he recovered from the undisclosed medical issue.
“The congressman’s team continues to serve the people of New Jersey without interruption,” Scharfenberger said in a statement. he said.
