Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-NJ) has made a public appearance after being absent from Washington for nearly four months due to an undisclosed medical condition. He was seen on Wednesday evening at his home in Westfield, marking one of the first confirmed sightings since early March. Kean briefly spoke to a reporter, stating, "It’s good to see you" and indicated he would talk further next week.
According to The New York Times, Kean's political adviser, Harrison Neely, confirmed that the congressman plans to return to Capitol Hill on June 30 after missing over 135 House votes since March 5. Neely stated that Kean is eager to resume his duties and will be transparent about his health issue upon his return.
Kean, who represents New Jersey's 7th Congressional District, had not been seen publicly since his last vote in early March on legislation related to President Donald Trump's immigration agenda. His absence raised questions among reporters and political observers, particularly as he continued to miss votes without providing details about his condition.
Earlier this month, Kean secured the Republican nomination for re-election and is expected to face Democrat Rebecca Bennett in a competitive House race. Despite his absence, he has continued to communicate through his office and received endorsements from Republican leaders, including President Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson.
Kean's chief of staff had previously commented on the lack of public sightings, stating, "There’s no cameras where Tom is." His recent appearance suggests that he is on track to return to Congress as planned.