Rep. Tom Kean Jr. returned to the House floor Tuesday after missing nearly four months of votes, revealing he had been hospitalized and diagnosed with depression. The New Jersey Republican’s absence left his district’s 750,000 residents without representation for more than 100 days—one of the longest disappearances by a sitting member of Congress in recent memory.
Kean’s office provided no public explanation during his absence, which began in early March. The congressman missed critical votes on border security, defense spending, and debt ceiling negotiations while collecting his $174,000 annual salary.
What Kean Said About His Absence
In a statement Tuesday, Kean said he entered the hospital “several months ago” for testing related to unspecified health concerns, which led to his depression diagnosis. He offered no details about his treatment, the severity of his condition, or why his constituents weren’t informed earlier.
“I am grateful for the support of my family, friends, and medical team during this time,” Kean said, adding that he looked forward to resuming his duties.
The timing raises questions about transparency. New Jersey’s 7th District—stretching from suburban Morris County to parts of Union and Somerset counties—has been effectively unrepresented during a period when Congress debated major legislation affecting Social Security, Medicare, and tax policy.
Political Fallout in Competitive District
Kean won his seat in 2022 by just three points in a district that voted for Joe Biden in 2020. His prolonged absence handed Democrats a ready-made attack line heading into the 2026 midterms: a congressman who collected a paycheck while skipping work during a critical legislative session.
New Jersey Democratic Party chair LeRoy Jones called the situation “unacceptable” and questioned whether Kean’s office deliberately concealed his condition from voters. “Constituents deserve to know when their representative can’t do the job,” Jones said.
House Republican leadership offered no comment on whether they knew about Kean’s diagnosis or hospitalization. Speaker Mike Johnson’s office said only that they were “glad to have Tom back.”
Kean is the son of former New Jersey Governor Thomas Kean Sr. and previously served in the state Senate. His district includes some of the state’s wealthiest suburbs but also working-class communities hit hard by inflation and property tax increases—issues that went without a voting representative while Kean was away.
Key Points
- Rep. Tom Kean Jr. missed nearly four months of House votes due to hospitalization and depression diagnosis
- His 7th District constituents went without representation for over 100 days during major legislative debates
- The absence creates political vulnerability in a competitive swing district heading into 2026 midterms
https://www.axios.com/2026/06/30/tom-kean-return-congress-absence – June 30, 2026
