Two-term Republican keeps health details quiet, thanks election team for maintaining ‘strong’ campaign
| April 27, 2026 | Politics
Tom Kean Jr., the Republican congressman from New Jersey’s 7th District, on Monday made his first public statement on a more than six-week absence from Washington, D.C., for treatment of an undisclosed health issue.
“I want to thank my constituents and colleagues for their patience as I address a personal medical issue,” Kean, 57, posted to the social media site now known as X. “My doctors continue to assure me that my recovery will be complete and that I will be back on the job I love very soon. I appreciate your support and look forward to being back in the near future.”
Kean, on his official campaign account, said he expects to return to a full schedule and “be at 100 percent.” Kean did not offer any details on his health issue or treatment.
Kean, whose dependable vote is crucial to Republicans’ thin House majority, hasn’t voted on the floor since March 5. Congress had a two-week recess in April. Republican and Democratic colleagues have said they called and texted Kean and heard nothing back.
“Complete radio silence,” Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-2nd) told NJ Spotlight News last week. On Thursday night, Speaker Mike Johnson, a fellow Republican, said he had spoken to Kean by phone that day.
A week prior, Dan Scharfenberger, Kean’s chief of staff, said in an emailed statement that Kean was “addressing a personal health matter.”
A former state legislator who is in his second House term, Kean is running for reelection in what will be one of New Jersey’s most closely watched midterm races in November. He’ll face the winner of the Democratic primary on June 2, with four candidates, plus any independent contenders.
“I am especially proud of my Congressional team, who have kept constituent services and legislative work moving forward without interruption, and my political team for ensuring the campaign continues to run strong,” he wrote.
Earlier Tuesday on his official congressional social media accounts, Kean thanked his staff for officially closing “over 5,000 constituent cases.”
“From returning lost refunds to restoring VA benefits, my casework team can get you the help you need,” Kean’s statement read.
Benjamin J. Hulac contributed reporting.
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