Trending Now - Trump Backs New Jersey Congressman Kean Jr. Despite Absence
WHO:
BBC - Republican Congressman Tom Kean Jr is involved in the story.
BBC - President Trump has endorsed Tom Kean Jr.
WHAT:
ABC News - President Trump renewed his endorsement for Kean on Monday night, stating, “GET OUT AND VOTE FOR TOM — HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!”
ABC News - Kean has not voted in the House since March 5, missing a total of 104 consecutive roll call votes.
ABC News - Kean's office has defended his absence by stating he is addressing an unspecified medical issue.
ABC News - A spokesman for Kean mentioned, “He plans to fully disclose his story, but for now he is listening to his doctors and focused on his recovery.”
ABC News - House Speaker Mike Johnson stated, "I don't even know the details," regarding Kean's absence, and expressed hope for his return soon.
ABC News - Johnson added, "He's had a medical issue, and he's going to be fully transparent and disclose all that."
ABC News - Tom Kean Jr. has missed a total of 104 consecutive roll call votes during his absence from Congress.
ABC News - Trump stated in a social media post, “GET OUT AND VOTE FOR TOM — HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!”
ABC News - Kean's district, New Jersey’s 7th, is rated as a toss-up by the Cook Political Report and is expected to be a top target for Democrats.
ABC News - Kean plans to return to the Capitol within the next few weeks and is running for re-election.
ABC News - Kean stated on May 21, “I understand the need for public transparency, and I appreciate the support of my constituents,” adding that his prognosis is positive, with no expected long-term effects or chronic health complications.
BBC - Tom Kean Jr is running unopposed in the upcoming election.
BBC - Kean has missed more than 100 votes in Congress.
BBC - Kean was last seen on 5 March.
WHERE:
BBC - The location of the congressional seat is New Jersey.
WHEN:
BBC - The election is expected to take place on Tuesday.
WHY:
ABC News - Johnson believes Kean will be re-elected this November due to his family's legacy of public service.
BBC - Kean has not needed to campaign with voters due to running unopposed.
HOW:
ABC News - House Speaker Mike Johnson mentioned he spoke with Kean during his absence once by phone and noted, "He sounded good and optimistic, and we're expecting him back here soon."
BBC - The endorsement from President Trump is part of Kean's campaign strategy.
(UPDATED June 3, 2026 01:52 UTC)
President Trump has renewed his endorsement for Tom Kean, urging supporters to "GET OUT AND VOTE FOR TOM — HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!" However, Kean has not participated in the House votes since March 5, missing a total of 104 consecutive roll call votes, with his office citing an unspecified medical issue as the reason for his absence. House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed hope for Kean's return, mentioning that he plans to be fully transparent about his situation while focusing on his recovery.
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(UPDATED June 2, 2026 21:53 UTC)
Tom Kean Jr. has missed a total of 104 consecutive roll call votes during his absence from Congress, but he plans to return to the Capitol within the next few weeks as he runs for re-election in New Jersey's 7th district, which is considered a toss-up by the Cook Political Report. In a recent social media post, Trump urged his supporters to vote for Kean, stating, “GET OUT AND VOTE FOR TOM — HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!” House Speaker Mike Johnson mentioned that he spoke with Kean during his absence and noted that he sounded good and optimistic about his return.
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(UPDATED June 2, 2026 20:13 UTC)
Republican Congressman Tom Kean Jr, who has been endorsed by President Trump, is running unopposed in the upcoming election for his congressional seat in New Jersey. Despite this advantage, Kean has missed more than 100 votes in Congress and was last seen on March 5. The election is expected to take place on Tuesday, and Kean has not needed to campaign with voters due to his unopposed status.