Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-NJ) has missed over a month’s worth of votes in the House of Representatives due to an unspecified “personal health matter.”
The New Jersey Republican hasn’t voted in the legislative chamber since March 5.
“Congressman is addressing a personal health matter. He will be returning to a full regular schedule,” Kean’s chief of staff said in March, according to NJ Spotlight News.
However, the end of April is approaching, and Kean remains absent.
The House will go another week without @CongressmanKean, who hasn’t cast a vote in more than a month due to an unspecified medical issue. Still no clear answers on what’s ailing him or when he’ll be back.https://t.co/GEcyioZfHF
— Joey Fox (@joeymdfox) April 20, 2026
More from NJ Spotlight News:
In the closely divided House, where Republicans can lose two defections on a given vote and pass a bill, the power of each member is amplified. It’s a story that’s played out again and again this Congress.
On a labor bill in January, New Jersey Republicans Jeff Van Drew and Chris Smith held out against party leaders, ultimately voting no and sinking the legislation. “We’re totally in control of the House,” Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana told reporters after his lieutenants failed to whip that vote into passage.
In late January, as Republicans held open a vote past the allotted time, Texas Republican Wesley Hunt rushed to the Capitol to cast the decisive vote against a bill to military operations in Venezuela. With Hunt’s no vote, the bill failed in a deadlock, 215-215.
The activities of a rank-and-file member often go overlooked in the House, home to 435 members when every seat is filled.
According to the New Jersey Globe, Kean has missed 37 roll-call votes and will miss votes once again this week.
Kean’s absence is even more critical for Republicans with the victory of progressive Democrat Analilia Mejia last week to fill the seat vacated by Democratic New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill.
House Republican Majority Narrows After Progressive Democrat Wins Special Election
New Jersey Globe explained further:
The congressman has also not made any in-person appearances recently, and photos posted in the last few weeks to his social media account appear to have been taken prior to the start of his medical issue. His office remains active, introducing legislation and penning letters to Trump administration officials, but Kean’s day-to-day involvement in its work is unknown.
As long as Kean remains missing from Congress, House GOP leaders will have to account for the loss of another vote in their already incredibly narrow majority. Just this past week, two votes – one of them a closely watched, and ultimately unsuccessful, resolution ending U.S. involvement in Iran – were decided by just one vote, showing how tenuous the Republican margins are.
That math will only get tighter after tonight, when Rep.-elect Analilia Mejia (D-Glen Ridge), who won an April 16 special election for a seat bordering Kean’s, is sworn in. After Mejia takes office, Republicans will have 218 seats to Democrats’ 214, but Kean’s indefinite absence essentially removes one GOP vote from that equation.
Kean is also a politically important member of that House majority, given that the district he represents, the 7th district in suburban North and Central Jersey, is one of the country’s most competitive. Democrats view Kean as highly vulnerable in November, and four well-funded Democrats are running for the nomination to challenge him.
What’s your perspective?
