Rep. Tom Kean hasn’t been seen in his N.J. district, where voters are split on his mysterious absence
WESTFIELD, N.J. — Rep. Tom Kean Jr.’s colleagues in Washington and constituents in New Jersey all seem to be asking the same question: Where is the congressman and when will he return?
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Kean, 57, hasn’t voted in the Capitol in almost three months due to what his office has described as a “personal medical issue.” His office has not offered more information but insists he’ll recover fully and return to work “soon.”
Kean also hasn’t been seen publicly here, in his district, or even appeared in any video statements since he last voted March 5. And he canceled a planned appearance at a local chamber of commerce event that was to take place next week, raising intense speculation about his mysterious absence.
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NBC News knocked on Kean’s door, but no one answered.
NBC News also spoke to two of Kean’s neighbors in his affluent suburban district outside of Newark, who both said they hadn’t seen him in months. Another constituent, who works at a tobacco shop in downtown Westfield, told NBC News: “I used to see him around town years ago at the restaurants. I haven’t seen him lately at all.”
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Kean’s absence has also been felt back in Washington, where House Republicans are navigating a razor-thin majority. Kean has so far missed more than 80 votes, including a measure to pave the way for Immigration and Customs Enforcement funding and another to rein in President Donald Trump’s Iran war powers, which was just narrowly defeated.
More concerning for Republicans is that Kean represents a key battleground seat. He faces no opposition in his GOP primary in less than two weeks, which means he’ll be locked in one of the most competitive House races in the country in November.
Behind the scenes, some Republicans are growing anxious about whether he’s up to the task of running another grueling campaign.
Rep. Jeff Van Drew, a fellow New Jersey Republican, said in an interview that he has tried contacting Kean, but to no avail.
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