Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-NJ) has not cast a single vote in Congress since March 5. His colleagues don’t know where he is. And his office isn’t saying much.
Politico first reported Wednesday that fellow New Jersey Republicans have been completely shut out, with Rep. Jeff Van Drew describing the situation as “radio silence.” Rep. Chris Smith said he has no information either, and even Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE), who works with Kean on legislation, only found out Kean was gone when he tried to find him on the House floor Tuesday.
Kean’s office has confirmed only that he is dealing with “a personal medical issue,” and says he will be “back on a regular full schedule very soon.” Union County Republican Chair Carlos Santos offered a slightly more hopeful note, telling Politico he had been texting with Kean and was told the congressman “will be fine and make a full recovery in the next couple weeks.” Across the aisle, Rep. Rob Menendez (D-NJ) said simply: “It’s been a long absence. I hope he’s doing all right. But I haven’t heard anything.”
Nearly 50 votes missed and counting
According to New Jersey Globe, Kean has now missed 49 consecutive roll-call votes starting March 16, with no end date in sight. His last vote was on a measure to fund the Department of Homeland Security during the ongoing funding standoff. Beyond floor votes, he has also missed committee markup sessions on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, where members review and vote on legislation.
What makes the silence more unusual is that his social media has stayed active throughout. Photos have continued appearing on his accounts, but those images appear to predate his medical situation. He has had no public appearances. His office, meanwhile, has continued issuing policy statements, including a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin about a planned ICE detention facility in his district, and announcements about FY2027 appropriations priorities.
His absence lands at a critical moment for House Republicans
The timing could not be worse for GOP leadership. Two recent House votes, including a closely watched resolution on U.S. involvement in Iran, were decided by a single vote. Kean’s missing vote has effectively tightened an already razor-thin Republican majority.
The math is about to get even harder. Democrat Analilia Mejia, who won an April 16 special election in a neighboring New Jersey district, is set to be sworn in. That will put the House at 218 Republicans and 214 Democrats. With Kean absent, the GOP is effectively working with one fewer vote than that, leaving almost no room for error on any major legislation.
A politically crucial seat now under more pressure
Kean’s 7th Congressional District in suburban North and Central New Jersey is rated a toss-up by Cook Political Report, making it one of the most competitive House seats heading into November’s midterms. Democrats have already lined up four well-funded candidates for the primary, set for June 2. His prolonged absence adds another layer of vulnerability at a time when Republicans can least afford it.
This isn’t the first time a New Jersey member of Congress has gone dark during a health crisis. The state has a difficult recent history with transparency around congressional medical emergencies. As Democrats push for new oversight mechanisms in Washington, questions about who controls information inside the halls of Congress have become sharper than ever.
Some Republicans have privately noted that the lack of information from Kean’s office echoes past situations, including the case of Rep. Donald Payne Jr., whose staff misled reporters about the severity of his condition before his death in April 2024.
With primaries approaching and the midterms growing closer, Kean’s team has at least kept up on one front: the congressman’s campaign reportedly raised over $1.1 million in the last quarter, building a war chest of nearly $3.4 million. But as Republican insiders warn of pressure campaigns within the party itself, the bigger question for Kean’s allies is simply when, exactly, he plans to show up.
