Rep. Thomas “Tom” Kean has been vague about his extended absence from Congress as his whereabouts remain unknown.
A GOP congressman in a competitive district has been absent from Capitol Hill for weeks, with little explanation as to why.
Despite not being seen in public since March, the New Jersey representative appears to still be carrying out one activity: trading stocks.
Republican congressman missing for weeks due to health issue
The New York Times recently reported on the mystery concerning the whereabouts and condition of Rep. Thomas Kean Jr. The New Jersey Republican has not cast a vote in Congress since March 5. For nearly three months, Kean has disappeared from the public eye altogether, with no photos or public sightings. He has canceled various public appearances, such as a May 28 breakfast meeting with the Morris County Chamber of Commerce. Despite facing a competitive race to maintain his position representing New Jersey’s 7th District, Kean has not been on the campaign trail.
Kean’s absence has been blamed on an unspecified health problem, but he and those around him have not given many details about his condition. On May 21, Kean spoke by phone to the New Jersey Globe, telling the paper, “My doctors are confident that I’m on the road to a full recovery.” The 57-year-old Kean said, “I understand the need for public transparency, and I appreciate the support of my constituents.” While not disclosing the nature of his illness, he clarified that it did not impact his cognitive abilities and that he was not expected to have any chronic or long-term negative health effects from the current ailment. Kean also confirmed that he is still seeking reelection, saying, “I anticipate that in the next couple of weeks, I’ll return to voting and to the campaign trail.”
Scrutiny over Kean’s actions during competitive reelection race
While Kean has been absent from Congress and from public appearances, records show that he has been active in other ways. As reported by The New Republic, which has scrutinized the congressman, Kean and his staff have filed various travel expenses during his absence, including Amtrak and rideshare expenses apparently accumulated in San Francisco. Kean has also filed disclosures reporting tens of thousands of dollars in stock transactions, trading shares of companies such as Johnson & Johnson and PepsiCo during his absence from Congress. “Representative Thomas Kean Jr. is apparently well enough to play in the stock market, even as he continues to skip work,” The New Republic posted after Kean’s most recent financial disclosure.
The negative publicity surrounding Kean’s absence and activities won’t hurt him in June’s Republican primary, where he is running unopposed. He may have to worry about November, however, where he is facing a competitive race. Kean was first elected to represent the 7th District in 2022 after redistricting gave Republicans a slight edge. However, the closely divided electorate in the district may be less favorable this year as President Trump’s growing unpopularity weighs on Republican candidates, and Democrats are hopeful that the district is one of the seats they can flip in their quest to retake control of Congress. Four Democrats are currently competing to run against Kean in November.
Former Navy helicopter pilot Rebecca Bennett, whose fundraising has outpaced Kean and her fellow Democrats, has expressed confidence that she will win the Democratic nomination and then defeat Kean. “They know I’m going to kick his a**,” she has declared.
Whether Bennett or another Democrat defeats Kean in a competitive House race remains to be seen. Before then, however, Kean will have to reassure colleagues and constituents by returning to Congress and demonstrating his ability to perform his duties, something he has not done during a mysterious and ongoing absence.