He hasn’t been seen in months. The Congressional Record disagrees

roll call ^ | June 2, 2026 | Nina Heller

[xxqqzz]

It’s been nearly three months since he last cast a vote on the House floor, but Rep. Thomas H. Kean Jr. has been keeping busy — or at least trying to look like he is.

In the New Jersey Republican’s absence, five speeches under his name have appeared in the Congressional Record.

Staff in congressional offices continue to work even when their bosses don’t, which is nothing new. But Kean’s disappearance has raised long-overdue questions about transparency on the Hill, some experts say.

“The appearance of impropriety is just as bad as the real thing because it casts a cloud on the individual or the institution, and Americans already have a pretty dismal view of Congress and of government broadly,” said Dylan

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TOPICS: Politics/Elections; US: New Jersey
KEYWORDS: illness; kean; thomashkeanjr; thomaskean; thomaskeane; thomaskeanjr

[xxqqzz]

This is a closely contested seat. A Democrat won an upset in 2018 and Kean took it back in 2022.

Kean is a typical old school NJ Republican. Probably would be considered RINO here. Father was governor, grandfather senator, male line descendent of Member of the Continental Congress from SC.

If he is sick, it would seem better to say so. This might result in his being defeated.

[nuconvert]

Why is it so hard to get to the bottom of it? Is he still alive?

[Vermont Lt]

It’s funny that this isn’t all over Fox News or CNN. I guess not showing up for work is OK with those people.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

He took some time off for a sex change operation. He will make his
debut as a woman, henceforth known as Tammy Kean.

Tammy, tell me true.

[piasa]

He has said that he has been ill.

[piasa]

Of course- Biden rarely if ever showed up. The media never complained.

[PermaRag]

That district is a complete tossup even without a “scandal” (which the media is trying to invent) plagued incumbent and even without a general D+5 environment.

WITH those things, it’s not even a tossup. It’s a loss.

Kean is of course a RINO but no conservative is going to win that district so someone like him is the best we can do. The primary was last week and Kean was unopposed. Several Democrats spent a ton of money in their primary, fighting to be first in line for the opportunity to oust Kean.

[piasa]

We used to have a Democratic congressman named Price in Illinois who was in office well past the day he turned room temperature … pretty sure he was a muppet the last 10 years or so with hidden handlers behind and below to move his arms to vote.

[napscoordinator]

I hope at the very least he wasn’t paid during that time he wasn’t at work. Congress already doesn’t work very many days of year so I don’t think we should paying people when they just takeoff. Missing 100 votes is unacceptable.

[napscoordinator]

He was kicked to the curb. Hopefully this guy is too.

[Liz]

Key congressman battling a health issue since March will return to Washington
in the next few weeks, vows to fully disclose details of his illness soon

By David Wildstein, May 21 2026 4:54 pm, New Jerseyglobe.com

Rep. Thomas Kean Jr. (R-Westfield) told the New Jersey Globe that he is nearing a return to work and intends to discuss publicly the health issue that has sidelined him since March. He also confirmed that he will seek re-election to a third term this year.

“My doctors are confident that I’m on the road to a full recovery,” said Kean in a lengthy telephone interview this afternoon. “I understand the need for public transparency, and I appreciate the support of my constituents.” Kean, 57, said his prognosis is positive, with no expected long-term effects or chronic health complications. He said his medical issue would not affect his cognitive health.

He also laid out a rough timetable of his return. “I anticipate that in the next couple of weeks, I’ll return to voting and to the campaign trail,” Kean stated.

In the meantime, the two-term Republican lawmaker said he is in daily touch with his congressional office and monitoring issues facing Congress and his district. Kean was also clear about his future plans. “I’m running,” he said.

This is the first public statement from Kean since April 24, although members of his staff have been issuing updates. It was also his first time speaking with a reporter since March. Hunterdon County GOP Chairman Gabe Plumer also spoke with Kean today. “I’m relieved to hear from him. He sounds great and energized,” Plumer said. “This should put an end to the rumor mill.”

Kean first began missing votes the week of March 16 and has missed 99 roll call votes. His last vote was on March 5, before a House recess. His re-election race was expected to be difficult even before his health issue. New Jersey’s 7th district is one of the most competitive in the nation and could be pivotal to determining which party controls the House next year. Kean flipped the seat in 2022 by three points when he ousted two-term Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-Ringoes); President Donald Trump won NJ-7 by one point in 2024, and Gov. Mikie Sherrill carried it by two points in 2025.

In a debate last week sponsored by the New Jersey Globe and Rider University, none of the four Democrats seeking the chance to oppose him said he was obligated to disclose the details of his personal health, although some criticized the ambiguity of Kean’s absence, suggesting it was part of a pattern of failing to communicate with constituents in forums like town halls.

The scion of a prominent New Jersey family that began with service in the Continental Congress, Kean’s grandfather served ten terms in Congress, and his great-grandfather was a U.S. Senator. His father, Thomas H. Kean, now 91, was a popular two-term governor.

This story was updated at 5:14 PM with a comment from Plumer.