Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-NJ) says he will be returning to work “very soon” amid an undisclosed “personal medical issue” after being absent from the chamber since early March.
Kean’s public statement comes as his colleagues said they had not heard from him; then, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) told the Washington Examiner last week that he was finally able to communicate with the Republican congressman over the phone.
“My doctors continue to assure me that my recovery will be complete and that I will be back to the job I love very soon,” Kean stated on Monday, adding that he expects “to return to a full schedule and be at 100 percent.”
The New Jersey Republican is notably running for re-election in one of the most competitive swing districts in the country, which is ranked a “toss-up” by the Cook Political Report—and only 16 other races currently meet that designation.
“I take my responsibilities seriously and have a strong record of showing up and delivering, which makes this absence all the more difficult,” he added. “I am especially proud of my Congressional team, who have kept constituent services and legislative work moving forward without interruption, and my political team for ensuring the campaign continues to run strong.”
Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ) told New Jersey Spotlight News in an April 22 report that it was “complete radio silence” from the lawmaker.
“Nobody’s covering up. We just haven’t heard a word,” Van Drew added.
Johnson told the Examiner that he and Kean were able to talk on Friday afternoon.
“He is attending to a personal health matter and expects to be back to 100% very soon,” the speaker stated.
There are multiple Democrats hoping to take on Kean in the midterms, including Dr. Tina Shah and Rebecca Bennett, according to the New Jersey Globe.
The seat is critical to determining who will control the House of Representatives in the second half of President Donald Trump’s term, as Republicans hold a narrow 218-212 majority, with five seats being vacant after recent resignations and the death of Rep. David Scott (D-GA) last Wednesday. This week, the House is in the thick of multiple critical debates ranging from FISA to finding a solution to end the Department of Homeland Security shutdown.
