Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-NJ), who has been absent from Capitol Hill since March, will miss votes again this week, his office confirmed to Fox News today
“Congressman Kean is still attending to a personal health matter, and we appreciate the outpouring of support,” Dan Scharfenberger, Kean’s chief of staff, said in a statement issued yesterday.
“He will be returning to a regular full schedule soon.”
Speaker Mike Johnson said on Tuesday he doesn’t know when Rep. Tom Kean (R-NJ) is coming back to Congress.
Kean hasn’t been seen since early March.
Source: NBC News https://t.co/HWHIBI5e5f pic.twitter.com/HLIdlkqDZ1
— Politics & Poll Tracker 📡 (@PollTracker2024) May 13, 2026
Kean, 57, has not specified when he plans to return to work or the nature of his health issue.
His office has insisted for weeks that he would resume his congressional responsibilities “soon.”
Kean has not voted since March 5, according to GovTrack, a website that monitors congressional activities.
During that time, he missed all 70 roll-call votes, including legislation to end the government shutdown and extend a critical warrantless surveillance tool.
Kean’s absence has taken a serious toll on Republican leadership and the thin margin they currently maintain in the House.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said in April that he spoke with Kean on the phone and expects him to make a full recovery.
“Tom is one of the most dedicated and hardest-working members of Congress, and I am grateful for all he does and will continue to do to serve New Jerseyans and our country,” Johnson said in a statement.
Kean’s prolonged absence could impact his chances of being re-elected, too.
Kean faces a potentially difficult re-election battle in one of the country’s most contested districts.
House Democrats’ campaign arm is expected to aggressively target the swing seat and four Democratic candidates are vying to take him on in a crowded June New Jersey primary.
The New Jersey Republican has no GOP challengers and is running for a third House term with President Donald Trump’s endorsement.
The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates the contest as a “toss-up” after downgrading the race in favor of Democrats last year.
Kean’s office has continued to post on social media while he recovers from the undisclosed medical issue, including posting yesterday, “Grateful to be recognized as a Congressional Retail Crime Fighter by @NRFnews during National Police Week.”
Grateful to be recognized as a Congressional Retail Crime Fighter by @NRFnews during National Police Week.
Organized retail crime continues to threaten consumers, workers, and businesses. As a cosponsor of the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act, I am proud to back legislation… pic.twitter.com/jXgco9ne8m
— Congressman Tom Kean (@CongressmanKean) May 12, 2026
“The Congressman’s team continues to serve the people of New Jersey uninterrupted,” Scharfenberger said in a statement.
However, political pundits are demanding that Kean offer more transparency into his absence.
Yesterday, ex-CNN political commentator and current NewsNation contributor Chris Cillizza took to X demanding that Kean give voters an explanation of his whereabouts.
I'm sorry but it is UNACCEPTABLE that Rep. Tom Kean Jr. hasn't been in DC or voted since March 5.
He owes taxpayers a FAR better explanation that he's given so far. pic.twitter.com/zQK20FrtYA
— Chris Cillizza (@ChrisCillizza) May 12, 2026