Rep. Tom Kean Jr. Reveals Diagnosis of Depression After Four-Month Absence from Congress

Rep. Tom Kean Jr., a Republican from New Jersey, disclosed on June 30 that he had been diagnosed with depression, which led to his absence from Congress for nearly four months. He shared this information during a speech upon his return to the House, stating that he had been hospitalized for testing and required months to recover. Kean expressed gratitude for the help he received and noted that he is now healthier and eager to resume his duties. During his absence, he missed 140 roll call votes, resulting in a 100% absence rate, according to GovTrack. Kean acknowledged that he initially underestimated the duration of his recovery and emphasized the importance of transparency regarding his health condition. House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed support for Kean, stating that many people can relate to his experience. Kean is facing a competitive re-election campaign against Democrat Rebecca Bennett, who is expected to focus on national security issues. The Cook Political Report has classified Kean's re-election bid as a toss-up.