New Jersey Republican Congressman Tom Kean Jr. is scheduled to make his return to Capitol Hill on June 30, following a months-long absence tied to an unspecified medical condition. A political consultant for Kean confirmed the date on Thursday.
Since his last House vote on March 5, Kean has been absent from both Washington and his home district, missing over 100 votes and generating widespread speculation about his condition and political future. His district is considered a key battleground seat heading into this November’s midterm elections.
Harrison Neely, a political consultant for the congressman, shared the news in a text message: “Congressman Kean is eager to return to in person work on June 30 and resume a full schedule. He plans to be fully transparent regarding the nature of his health issue and you should expect to hear from him in person June 30th.”
Kean’s office has confirmed he intends to seek reelection and will face Democratic Navy veteran Rebecca Bennett in what is expected to be one of the state’s most closely contested races this fall. The seat has changed party hands in each of the last two midterm cycles — Kean won it in 2022 over Democrat Tom Malinowski, who had previously taken it from Republican Leonard Lance in 2018.
Back in April, Kean’s social media account acknowledged he had been dealing with a personal medical matter, with his doctors expecting a full recovery. He has not publicly disclosed what the condition is. On Primary Day earlier this month, President Donald Trump threw his support behind Kean’s reelection bid, making no mention of the congressman’s extended absence. That same day, Kean released a statement saying he anticipated returning to work within a few weeks.
Kean carries a deep legacy of public service. His family’s political roots stretch back roughly 250 years to the founding of the country, when one of his ancestors became New Jersey’s first leader following independence. His great-grandfather served as a senator, his grandfather was a congressman, and his father, Tom Kean Sr., served two terms as governor of New Jersey.
