Tom Kean Jr. Absence Grows as Nj 7th District Congressman Absence Continues
Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. will miss another week of work in Washington as his nj 7th district congressman absence stretches past 10 weeks. He has not voted in the House since March 5 and has missed 68 votes.
Tom Kean Jr. and the House schedule
Kean’s office has said his absence is tied to a personal health matter. The congressman’s office also said in late April that he would return to a full schedule very soon, but he has not made a public appearance since early March.
The House returns Tuesday without him. House Speaker Mike Johnson said on Tuesday that he did not know when Kean would return to work, leaving the New Jersey Republican off the floor as lawmakers resume business after weeks in which his seat has remained empty.
March 5 and 68 votes
The missed votes include legislation to end the record 75-day shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security. That puts his absence in direct line with one of the chamber’s highest-profile votes this spring, while his office’s explanations have changed only in timing, not in substance.
In early April, some of Kean’s colleagues reached out to check how he was doing, but their calls went unanswered. Last week, a member of Kean’s political operation told Politico, “Of course Congressman Kean is running for re-election.”
New Jersey's 7th District
Kean represents one of the nation’s most competitive congressional districts, and his prolonged absence has drawn attention because it has lasted 10 weeks. The district has no substitute vote on the House floor, so every missed day adds to the stretch already on the record since March 5.
For constituents, the immediate takeaway is simple: Kean is still out, still missing votes, and still not back on a full schedule. Until he returns, the seat remains represented in name but absent in the chamber when the House votes.
