Rep. Thomas Kean Jr. Returns to Congress in Coming Weeks After Health-Related Absence

Rep. Thomas Kean Jr. has not cast a House vote since March 5 and has missed more than 100 votes while recovering from an undisclosed health issue. Washington Examiner reported that the 57-year-old lawmaker, who represents New Jersey’s 7th District, has been absent from both Capitol Hill and the campaign trail for months.

Kean told the New Jersey Globe he expects to return to Congress within the next couple of weeks. “My doctors are confident that I’m on the road to a full recovery,” he said. ” Kean’s nomination on June 2 is largely a formality because he is the only Republican running in the GOP primary for the 7th District.

The seat is considered a purple swing district that could affect the balance of power in the narrowly divided House. Kristen Cianci, the Republican National Committee’s Northeast regional communications director, said the campaign has staffed up in the district and remains committed to Kean’s reelection.

“Congressman Tom Kean has a long record of delivering results for New Jerseyans – first at the state level and now in Congress – and will continue to do so once he has recovered from this medical issue,” Cianci told the Washington Examiner.

Republican Michael Crispi said the prolonged absence has raised concerns within the party. “It’s such a thin House majority — that seat is so crucial to the balance of power nationally,” Crispi said during a phone call earlier this month. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee placed Kean’s seat on its “Districts in Play” target list.

DCCC spokesman Eli Cousin said, “Career politician Tom Kean Jr. ” Four Democrats are running in the primary to challenge Kean: Rebecca Bennett, a healthcare business owner and former Navy pilot; Michael Roth, a former Biden official; Tina Shah, a physician and former Obama and Biden adviser; and Brian Varela, chairman of the Morris County Democratic Party Hispanic Caucus.

NRCC Chairman Richard Hudson said Kean told him during a phone call earlier this month that he plans to return to Capitol Hill sometime in June.

Hudson said Kean thanked him for giving him space to recover. Kean’s father, former New Jersey Gov. , told CNN that his son is under a doctor’s care and recovering from a serious but temporary illness.

“They all agree he’s going to be fine. said. Kean’s attendance will be relevant in June when the House is scheduled to vote on a $70 billion party-line immigration bill, the reauthorization of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, and a Democratic-led war powers resolution concerning President Donald Trump’s military actions in Iran.