Senior House Republicans are growing alarmed over the two-month-plus absence of New Jersey GOP Rep. Tom Kean.
Kean last voted in the House on March 5. Kean’s staff has said publicly that he’s dealing with a medical issue and will return to Washington as soon as possible. No other information has been made available on the two-term lawmaker.
But what’s concerning the GOP leadership is that the 57-year-old Kean and his team aren’t giving them any more information privately. Speaker Mike Johnson and Kean have spoken once. But the entire GOP leadership is in the dark about the reasons for Kean’s 70-day absence from Congress.
“I don’t have any idea what’s going on,” one senior House Republican leadership aide said, a sentiment echoed by six Republican aides and lawmakers in and around the GOP leadership.
Kean’s staff has been unwilling to discuss with anyone why the New Jersey Republican is absent.
“There’s absolutely nothing to worry about,” said Harrison Neely, a spokesperson for Kean. “Congressman Kean is going to be back to a full schedule very soon. He will be 100% healthy and is excited to get back to work.”
Privately, GOP operatives are growing concerned that Kean won’t be in a position to weather a grueling campaign this fall. Kean’s district is among the most competitive in the country. President Donald Trump won Kean’s district by just one point in 2024.
“This is about more than one person at this point; it’s about the vote and the ability to hold the seat in the fall,” said one senior GOP leadership aide. “The answer can’t simply be ‘trust us’ when nothing about their behavior has inspired trust.”
Kean represents a northwestern New Jersey district. Kean previously served in the New Jersey General Assembly and the state Senate. He served for 14 years as the Republican leader in the Garden State.
Kean beat former Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-N.J.) in 2022. Kean’s father was the speaker of the state assembly and governor of New Jersey from 1982 to 1990. And his grandfather served in the House from 1939 to 1959.
Kean’s district is a top target for Democrats, who have a crowded primary full of well-funded candidates. This will be an all-out brawl that will cost both parties millions of dollars.
Kean’s fundraising is strong. He brought in $1.1 million last quarter. But three of Kean’s opponents raised more than $500,000, an impressive sum for a challenger.
