NJ Congressman Tom Kean Jr. Announces Return After Long Absence
WHO:
ABC News - Tom Kean Jr. comes from a long line of public servants, with a family history stretching 250 years to the country’s founding.
NY Post - Tom Kean Jr. is a Republican Congressman from New Jersey.
ABC News - Harrison Neely is a political consultant to Tom Kean Jr.
ABC News - Rebecca Bennett is a Democratic Navy veteran running against Tom Kean Jr. in the upcoming election.
WHAT:
ABC News - Kean's absence has confounded Capitol Hill, with over 100 votes missed since March 5.
ABC News - President Trump endorsed Kean’s reelection on Primary Day, without mentioning his absence.
ABC News - Kean's district is among the most closely watched in the upcoming election, having changed party hands in the past two midterm elections.
NY Post - Tom Kean Jr. has missed over 135 roll call votes since March 5.
ABC News - Tom Kean Jr. is set to return to Congress on June 30 after a monthslong absence due to an unspecified medical issue.
ABC News - Kean's absence has stirred a mystery with potential national consequences.
ABC News - Kean's office stated he is still running for reelection and plans to be fully transparent regarding his health issue.
WHERE:
ABC News - Tom Kean Jr. represents a battleground district in New Jersey.
WHEN:
ABC News - Tom Kean Jr. last voted in the House on March 5.
ABC News - Tom Kean Jr. plans to return to work on June 30.
ABC News - The election in which Kean is running against Rebecca Bennett is scheduled for November.
WHY:
ABC News - Tom Kean Jr. has been absent due to a personal medical issue, which has not been explained.
HOW:
ABC News - Harrison Neely stated, “He plans to be fully transparent regarding the nature of his health issue and you should expect to hear from him in person June 30th."
ABC News - Kean's political consultant stated, “He plans to be fully transparent regarding the nature of his health issue and you should expect to hear from him in person June 30th."
ABC News - Kean's political consultant stated he is eager to return to in-person work and resume a full schedule.
(UPDATED June 19, 2026 01:54 UTC)
Tom Kean Jr., who comes from a long line of public servants with a family history stretching back 250 years, has been absent from Capitol Hill, missing over 100 votes since March 5. His absence has raised questions among his colleagues, and his spokesperson, Harrison Neely, indicated that Kean plans to be fully transparent about his health issue. Neely also mentioned that we can expect to hear from Kean in person on June 30th.
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(UPDATED June 18, 2026 23:35 UTC)
President Trump has endorsed Kean’s reelection on Primary Day, notably without addressing his absence from the campaign trail. Kean's district is one of the most closely watched in the upcoming election, having switched party hands in the last two midterm elections. According to Kean's political consultant, he intends to be fully transparent about his health issue and plans to speak in person on June 30th.
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(UPDATED June 18, 2026 21:41 UTC)
Tom Kean Jr., a Republican Congressman from New Jersey, has missed over 135 roll call votes since March 5 due to an unspecified medical issue, but he plans to return to Congress on June 30. His absence has raised questions and concerns, especially as he prepares to face Democratic Navy veteran Rebecca Bennett in the upcoming election scheduled for November. Kean's office assures that he is still running for reelection and intends to be fully transparent about his health situation as he looks forward to resuming a full schedule.