Rep Tom Kean Jr remains absent from Congress as re-election battle looms
Fox News • • nation
Key Points:
- Rep. Tom Kean Jr., a New Jersey Republican, has been absent from Congress for over two months due to an undisclosed personal health matter and will miss votes again this week, with no specified return date.
- Kean has missed all 70 roll-call votes since March 5, impacting the GOP's slim House majority, where every vote is critical for advancing party-line legislation.
- House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed support for Kean, anticipating a full recovery and praising his dedication, while acknowledging the challenges posed by his absence.
- Kean faces a tough re-election battle in a highly competitive district rated as a "toss-up" by the Cook Political Report, with multiple Democratic candidates competing in the primary and no GOP challengers against him.
- Despite his absence, Kean’s office continues to operate and serve constituents, maintaining communication through social media updates during his recovery.