A Republican lawmaker has been absent from Washington, D.C., for a month, and his fellow party members are perplexed about his whereabouts. New Jersey Representative Tom Kean has missed nearly 50 roll call votes since last appearing on the House floor, and none of his Republican colleagues have been able to confirm what has happened to him, according to Politico.
Unexplained Absence Raises Questions
Kean, 57, who is facing a challenging reelection campaign in November, has been absent due to “unspecified health reasons,” according to the outlet. However, his team has not provided further details. Republican Representatives Chris Smith and Jeff Van Drew, both from New Jersey, told Politico they have reached out to Kean out of concern but have not received a response. Van Drew described the lack of communication as “radio silence.”
GOP Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska admitted he was unaware of the length of Kean’s absence until he tried to locate him on the House floor this week. “I was looking for him,” Bacon said. “I didn’t know it was that long.”
Local GOP Chair Offers Update
Union County GOP Chair Carlos Santos provided some insight, stating, “I don’t even know the truth myself or even enough to disclose any information. But I have been texting with him and was told he’ll be fine and make a full recovery in the next couple weeks.”
New Jersey Democrats have also expressed concern. Representative Rob Menendez, a Democrat, said, “It’s been a long absence. I hope he’s doing all right. But I haven’t heard anything.”
Kean’s Office Responds
The Independent has contacted Kean’s office for comment. Harrison Neely, a consultant for Kean, told Politico that the congressman would be returning soon. “I know the congressman and his family appreciate all of the well wishes and support,” Neely said in a statement. “Please know that he will be back on a regular full schedule very soon.”
Political Context
Kean represents New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District, one of the most competitive in the state during the November midterm elections. His reelection bid is complicated by the Trump administration’s proposal to open an immigration detention facility in the district, which has sparked public protests. Kean wrote to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin on April 7 regarding the plans, requesting that the department “take a deeper look and give careful consideration to the concerns raised by local officials.”
