Rep. Tom Kean Jr., a Republican from New Jersey, stated he is nearing a “full recovery” and should return to work soon after an undisclosed health issue kept him away from Congress since March.
“My doctors are confident that I’m on the road to a full recovery,” he said in a statement.
“I understand the need for public transparency, and I appreciate the support of my constituents,” Kean added.
Kean has not cast a vote in the House of Representatives since March 5. At 57, he described his prognosis as positive with no expected long-term effects or chronic health complications. He also said his medical condition would not impact his cognitive abilities.
Kean outlined a timeline for his return: “I anticipate that in the next couple of weeks, I’ll return to voting and to the campaign trail,” he stated.
In the meantime, the two-term Republican lawmaker confirmed he is maintaining regular contact with his congressional office and monitoring matters affecting Congress and his district. This marks Kean’s first public statement since April 24, though his staff has been providing updates. It was also his first interview with a reporter since March.
His father, former New Jersey Governor Tom Kean Sr., commented during a recent interview: “It took a real illness to knock him out,” he said. “This won’t linger. It’s not some kind of disease that’s going to incapacitate him in the future. The consensus is that he will be 100% OK.”
Kean has missed dozens of roll call votes during his absence, an issue that has reportedly become a private worry among Republicans as the party holds only a slim majority in the House and cannot afford more than a couple of defections on party-line votes when all members are present.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) told reporters last week: “It’s a personal thing, and obviously I told him that we’re praying for him, and I need him to get back as soon as he can.”
Kean’s absence from the campaign trail has also drawn attention. His congressional seat, which covers western and central New Jersey, is considered a “toss-up” heading into November elections. He flipped the district in the 2022 election by defeating former Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-N.J.) by just 3 points.
Kean is the only candidate on the June 2 GOP primary ballot, and his Democratic challengers have repeatedly questioned his recent hiatus.
