New Jersey GOP Rep. Tom Kean Jr. has remained absent from Capitol Hill for weeks. His team has attributed the disappearance to unspecified “health issues”.
According to a report by the New York Post, Kean has not voted in the House since early March and has missed more than 50 votes. Kean is, however, posting occasional updates on social media about legislative work.
Kean wasn’t on Capitol Hill for votes on Wednesday of last week, but he did post on social media about two of his measures passing committee.
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‘Radio silence’ raises questions in Congress
The long absence has garnered notice owing to the lack of direct communication. According to Politico, fellow Republicans from New Jersey, such as Chris Smith and Jeff Van Drew, have said they have been unable to get in touch with Kean, calling the situation “radio silence.”
A consultant for Kean told Politico that the congressman is dealing with health issues and appreciates public support. He further told Politico that he is expected to return to a “regular full schedule very soon.”
Given the competitive district he represents, Kean’s absence has also sparked worries about the midterm elections. According to GovTrack data, Kean, a member of the House for two terms, had an almost flawless attendance record until earlier this year.
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Tight House margins
The GOP leadership finds it challenging to manage difficult votes like the extension of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act due to the narrow Republican majority in the House.
There are now 212 Democrats, 217 Republicans (plus one independent who aligns with the GOP), and five open seats in the House.
The House has already dealt with unexplained absences that went unnoticed. For instance, former Representative Kay Granger (R-Texas), who had been missing for months, was found in a memory care-focused retirement facility in 2024.
Rep. Neal Dunn (R-Fla.), who is known to have a terminal illness, was also predicted to be “dead by June,” according to a statement made by President Trump last month.
Rep. David Scott (D-Ga.) also became the fifth member of the House to pass away while serving in Congress since early 2025 while running for reelection.
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