N.J. Rep. Kean says he will return to work in June and disclose illness that has kept him sidelined

Rep. Tom Kean Jr. says he plans to return to work in Washington next month and soon disclose the illness that has prevented him from voting in Congress for months. 

The New Jersey Republican made a few calls on Thursday to spread the word of his pending return amid rising speculation about the condition of his health since he has not been seen or heard from publicly since March. 

“My doctors are confident that I’m on the road to a full recovery,” Mr. Kean, 57, said in a telephone interview with the New Jersey Globe. “I understand the need for public transparency, and I appreciate the support of my constituents.”

Mr. Kean, who last voted in Congress on March 5, did not disclose his medical issue in the interview but said he intends to discuss it publicly at some point.

For now, he would only say his prognosis is positive, would not affect his cognitive health and the illness is not expected to lead to long-term complications.  

Mr. Kean told the Globe that he anticipates returning to Washington and the campaign trail “in the next couple of weeks.”

He also called North Carolina Rep. Richard Hudson, who chairs the GOP’s campaign arm, to reiterate he’s still running for reelection.

“I got no details about his condition, but I talked to him. He sounded like the same old Tom,” Mr. Hudson told reporters shortly after the phone call. 

Mr. Hudson said he did not ask Mr. Kean for his exact date of return or why he had not been in touch sooner, but that the congressman expressed his appreciation for his colleagues giving him space to recover. 

Mr. Kean also reportedly called his local Republican Party chairs. 

It’s unclear if Mr. Kean will make a public appearance before New Jersey’s June 2 primary, but he does not face any Republican challengers. 

He is, however, expected to face a competitive general election race against whoever emerges as the Democratic nominee. 

President Trump won Mr. Kean’s 7th Congressional District by a single point in 2024 after the district voted for Joe Biden in 2020.

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Lindsey McPherson

lmcpherson@washingtontimes.com

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