New Jersey Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. is set to return to Congress on Tuesday, ending a nearly four-month absence he has now attributed to treatment for depression.
The 57-year-old lawmaker’s prolonged disappearance from public view had fueled significant speculation regarding his health.
“It is physical, it is emotional, and until you experience it yourself, it is difficult to fully understand how powerful this illness can be,” he said on the House floor.
Kean’s reappearance comes after he won an uncontested primary on June 2 and months since he last voted in the House.
“Today I stand before you healthier, stronger and excited to return to the work that I love,” Kean said.
The second-term lawmaker hails from a prominent political family.
Kean has missed more than 100 votes in Congress this year and has not been seen publicly in Washington or his home district, despite securing the Republican nomination for another term.
m. His spokesman previously stated that the congressman would return to work this week and intended to be transparent about the reasons for his absence. Last week, Kean briefly spoke with a New York Times reporter at his home, declining an interview but promising to speak later.
The mystery surrounding Kean’s disappearance carried considerable political weight, particularly given the competitive nature of his district, which includes President Donald Trump’s Bedminster golf club, and the Republican Party’s slim majority in the House.
Kean is actively campaigning for re-election and is set to face Democratic nominee Rebecca Bennett, a former Navy helicopter pilot, in what is anticipated to be New Jersey’s most high-profile contest this November.
Democrats have identified this district as a prime opportunity for a pick-up, noting that the seat has changed hands in the last two midterm elections. Kean secured his victory in 2022 by defeating Democrat Tom Malinowski, who had previously unseated Republican Leonard Lance in 2018.
Kean last voted in the House on March 5, but his absence wasn’t explained.
In April, his social media account said he had been dealing with a personal medical issue and his doctors expected him to recover.
Kean’s absence has also complicated matters for House Republican leaders, who are struggling every day to pass bills with their razor-thin majority, 218-212. Speaker Mike Johnson and other GOP leaders repeatedly told reporters they were in touch with Kean, but said he would have to address the circumstances himself.
Trump has endorsed Kean’s reelection, without mentioning his absence.
Kean comes from a long line of public servants, stretching 250 years to the country’s founding when one of his ancestors became New Jersey’s first leader since independence.
His great-grandfather was a senator, his grandfather was a congressman and his father is the former two-term governor, Tom Kean Sr.
If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email [email protected], or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch
If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you
