Rep. Tom Kean hasn’t been seen in his N.J. district, where voters are split on his mysterious absence

The Republican, 57, hasn’t voted since March 5 due to a “personal medical issue.” Some constituents want more detail, while others are offering him grace for now.

WESTFIELD, N.J. — Rep. Tom Kean Jr.’s colleagues in Washington and constituents in New Jersey all seem to be asking the same question: Where is the congressman and when will he return?

Kean, 57, hasn’t voted in the Capitol in almost three months due to what his office has described as a “personal medical issue.” His office has not offered more information but insists he’ll recover fully and return to work “soon.”

Kean also hasn’t been seen publicly here, in his district, or even appeared in any video statements since he last voted March 5. And he canceled a planned appearance at a local chamber of commerce event that was to take place next week, raising intense speculation about his mysterious absence.

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NBC News knocked on Kean’s door, but no one answered.

NBC News also spoke to two of Kean’s neighbors in his affluent suburban district outside of Newark, who both said they hadn’t seen him in months. Another constituent, who works at a tobacco shop in downtown Westfield, told NBC News: “I used to see him around town years ago at the restaurants. I haven’t seen him lately at all.”

Kean’s absence has also been felt back in Washington, where House Republicans are navigating a razor-thin majority. Kean has so far missed more than 80 votes, including a measure to pave the way for Immigration and Customs Enforcement funding and another to rein in President Donald Trump’s Iran war powers, which was just narrowly defeated.

More concerning for Republicans is that Kean represents a key battleground seat. He faces no opposition in his GOP primary in less than two weeks, which means he’ll be locked in one of the most competitive House races in the country in November.

Behind the scenes, some Republicans are growing anxious about whether he’s up to the task of running another grueling campaign.

Rep. Jeff Van Drew, a fellow New Jersey Republican, said in an interview that he has tried contacting Kean, but to no avail.

GOP leaders have expressed confidence that Kean will be able to run and win in November. However, even House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., who said he last spoke to the congressman three weeks ago, admitted he doesn’t know the reason for Kean’s absence or his exact timeline for return.

“He’s had a medical issue, and he’s going to be fully transparent and disclose all that … but I don’t even know the details. It’s a member’s personal privacy on whatever matters they’re dealing with,” Johnson said at this week’s GOP leadership press conference. “He’s going to get re-elected, and we look forward to welcoming him back here very soon.”

Some of Kean’s constituents believe Kean has a duty to be more transparent about his condition and when he expects to be back.

“It’s pretty alarming as one of his constituents and a voter, especially with the primary coming up in a couple of weeks because they say that he’s away from the Capitol,” said Bobby Anderson, a chef from Somerville. “He’s also been away from here in his own district, not answering phone calls or emails from his constituents. So it’s pretty shocking and fairly alarming to me as a voter.”

Another resident from the area added: “We’d like to know what our representatives are doing and where they are and what they’re doing for us. And he’s just been gone. … He’s a public servant. He should tell us.”

Other constituents, however, were more willing to show Kean some grace.

“I think there’s a good amount of privacy that people are allowed to have, whether they’re in office or not,” said Cindy Capodice, who is self-employed. “I don’t think he is required to share. I think they’ve shared what they want to and leave it at that.”

Kean is hardly the only member of Congress to miss extended periods of work. Both sides of the aisle have struggled with and attendance issues. Democratic Rep. Frederica Wilson of Florida missed a month of votes due to a medical procedure and returned this week.

In 2024, then-Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas — who once chaired the powerful House Appropriations Committee — was absent from the Capitol for nearly half the year before a family member revealed she had been placed into a memory care facility.

While there are clear guidelines for federal employees surrounding paid Family and Medical Leave — they’re entitled to 12 weeks a year for a set of defined reasons, and there’s a process to file those claims — there are no rules for members of Congress, leaving it largely up to voters to respond to a lengthy, indefinite absence.

So far, the Democrats competing in the primary for Kean’s district are treading carefully on the sensitive issue. Kean’s absence was the first question that was asked at a Democratic debate last week. All four candidates wished Kean well but said he needs to be more forthcoming.

One of those candidates, Navy pilot Rebecca Bennett, echoed a similar sentiment in an interview Monday.

“I certainly wish him well, and I hope he has a speedy recovery. I do think looking at his record, he has absolutely failed this district,” Bennett told NBC News. “If I was our member of Congress, I would certainly be more transparent about what’s going on.”

Kean’s office has been projecting business as usual. A post on his X account last week announced that he’s joining the Congressional Crypto Caucus. And his office also sent out a newsletter to constituents celebrating Police Week, which included a photo of the congressman with law enforcement that appears to be from two years ago.

In a statement, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee said Kean needs to “come clean” about his whereabouts.

“It’s past time for Congressman Tom Kean Jr. and his office to come clean to New Jersey voters about where he is and who is working on their behalf in Washington,” spokesman Eli Cousin said. “His constituents deserve transparency and a congressmember who will fight for them.”

Union County Republican Chair Carlos Santos said in a phone interview that he hasn’t had contact with Kean “recently” and has not been informed of the congressman’s condition, but expressed confidence Kean could run for re-election.

If Kean were to drop out of the race after securing the party nomination June 2, it would be up to the county Republican committees in the district to select a new GOP candidate through a convention process.

Melanie Zanona
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