Kean returns after depression-related absence as re-election fight looms

Tom Kean Jr. returned to Congress on Tuesday after a 117-day absence, saying he had been hospitalized for depression and ending months of silence that had left New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District without its representative for 88 consecutive House votes. The Republican’s absence, which began in early March, had already turned into a campaign issue in one of the country’s closest House districts.

For weeks, Kean’s staff and family referred only to a personal health issue. House Speaker Mike Johnson said he did not know the details. Kean’s father, former Gov. Tom Kean Sr., later said his son was under a doctor’s care for a serious but temporary illness and would be out for two to three more weeks. Kean’s own disclosure said depression kept him out of Washington.

Rebecca Bennett won the Democratic primary on June 2, with 99% of votes counted, setting up a November 3 general election against Kean after he advanced from the Republican primary the same day. The district is competitive, and Democrats have not held the seat since Kean defeated Tom Malinowski in 2022, after Malinowski beat Kean 50.6% to 49.4% in the old version of the district in 2020, a rematch marked by millions in outside spending.

The Constitution says a majority is needed for a quorum and allows each House to compel attendance of absent members, while House practice gives the Speaker a mechanism for a call of the House. A vacancy is filled by election in the district, with state law setting the timing and manner of the special election. New Jersey was apportioned 12 House seats after the 2020 census, and its representatives now serve an average of 774,541 residents each.