Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. is drawing increasing concern on Capitol Hill after reportedly being absent from Washington for more than a month, missing dozens of votes at a time when control of the House hangs in a delicate balance.
Kean, who has represented New Jersey’s Seventh Congressional District since 2023, has not cast a vote since March 5, according to a report from Politico. In that span, he has missed nearly 50 roll call votes, adding to an earlier pattern in which he missed more than 20% of votes between January and March 2026, as tracked by GovTrack.
The extended absence has not gone unnoticed by fellow Republicans. Reps. Chris Smith and Jeff Van Drew told Politico they had attempted to reach Kean through calls and texts, only to receive what they described as “radio silence.” Despite growing unease, members of the Republican conference have yet to formally address the situation.
Sources close to Kean’s office and campaign indicated that the congressman has been dealing with unannounced and unspecified health issues. They added that he is expected to return to work in the coming weeks, though few details have been made public.
Bill Palatucci, a Republican National Committee member and attorney for Kean’s campaign, struck a sympathetic tone when addressing the situation. “Everyone understands from their own family experiences that people run into unexpected health issues,” he said, adding that voters are likely to respond with understanding and that the matter could fade from memory by the fall.
Still, the timing raises political stakes. Kean represents one of the most competitive districts in the country, with Democrats actively targeting the seat as part of their broader effort to retake the House. The Cook Political Report currently rates the race as a toss-up, citing a more challenging political environment, the likelihood of a stronger Democratic challenger, and the district’s gradual shift away from the GOP.
The narrow margins in the district underscore the challenge. Donald Trump carried the Seventh District by just one percentage point in the 2024 presidential election after losing it by four points in 2020—an indication of how finely balanced the electorate has become.
Meanwhile, political momentum in neighboring districts has not favored Republicans. In New Jersey’s 11th District, Democrat Analilia Mejia secured a decisive victory in a special election, defeating Republican Joe Hathaway by a 60% to 40% margin. Mejia had earlier beaten former Democratic Rep. Tom Malinowski in a primary contest for the seat vacated by Gov. Mikie Sherrill.
Kean himself has a history with Malinowski, having unseated him in 2022 after a narrow loss in 2020. He also carries a well-known political legacy as the son of former New Jersey Gov. Thomas Kean.
As Republicans work to maintain their slim House majority, Kean’s absence adds another layer of uncertainty to an already difficult map. The party has been dealing with a series of setbacks, including resignations, retirements, and even the sudden death of a member—developments that have tightened the margin for error.
While health concerns deserve privacy and compassion, the episode highlights the pressures of governing during a volatile period. With so much at stake nationally and abroad, even temporary absences can ripple through a closely divided Congress, where every vote—and every voice—can carry significant weight.
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