Attorney Tom Kean Jr. he is still absent from the Congress as the battle for re-election is being considered
The New Jersey congressman was away for weeks
Chief congressional reporter Chad Pergram discusses Rep. Tom Kean Jr.’s, RN.J., who has been out of Congress for weeks, has lost more than 50 votes since early March.
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Rep. Tom Kean Jr., the GOP representative who has been absent from Washington for more than two months, will miss another vote this week, his office confirmed to Fox News Digital.
“Congressman Kean is still working through his health issues, and we appreciate the outpouring of support,” Dan Scharfenberger, Kean’s chief of staff, said in a statement Monday. “He’ll be back to a full normal schedule soon.”
Kean, 57, has not said when he plans to return to work or the nature of his health problem. His office has insisted for weeks that he will resume his congressional duties “soon.”
The New Jersey Republican has not voted since March 5, according to GovTrack, a website that monitors congressional activities. During that time, he missed all 70 votes in the lower chamber, including legislation to end the government shutdown and extend the warrantless search tool.
Rep. Thomas Kean Jr., RN.J., arrives at the House Republican Conference caucus meeting at the US Capitol on March 4, 2026. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc. via Getty Images)
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Kean’s absence has a major impact on House Republicans’ slim majority as House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is able to withhold a handful of votes on the party’s bills. Democrats have also struggled to keep the people whole in recent weeks.
Johnson said he spoke to Kean on the phone in April and expects him to make a full recovery.
“Tom is one of the most dedicated and hard-working members of Congress, and I am grateful for all that he has done and will continue to do for the people of New Jersey and our country,” Johnson said in a statement obtained by Fox News Digital.
House Speaker Mike Johnson speaks during a press conference at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on Jan. 13, 2026. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
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Kean’s extended absence from Washington comes as he faces a potentially tough re-election battle in one of the most competitive districts in the country. The House Democrats’ campaign arm is expected to target the seat and four Democratic candidates are running for the June election.
The New Jersey Republican has no GOP challengers and is running for a third term in the House with the endorsement of President Donald Trump.
The nonpartisan Cook Political Report called the race a “toss up” after downvoting the race in favor of Democrats last year.
President Donald Trump has approved the request of Tom Kean Jr. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP)
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Kean’s office has continued to post on social media as he recovers from an undisclosed health issue.
“The Congressman’s team continues to serve the people of New Jersey without interruption,” Scharfenberger said in a statement.
