U.S. Rep. Thomas Kean Jr. (R-NJ) (C) arrives at the U.S. Capitol with his wife Rhonda Kean (R) on June 30, 2026 in Washington, DC.
Anna Moneymaker | Getty Images
Rep. Tom Kean Jr., R-N.J., said Tuesday that he was diagnosed with depression, explaining a months-long absence from Congress that had become a political liability in one of the nation’s most competitive House districts in the 2026 midterm elections.
Kean, a second-term Republican who represents New Jersey’s 7th District, had not cast a House vote since March 5 and missed more than 140 votes while he was away from Washington. His absence drew increasing questions as it lengthened without explanation. His office had previously described the absence only as a personal medical issue.
“When I said I hope to return in a matter of weeks, I believed it,” Kean said on the House floor, his first appearance there since March 5.
Kean continued, “Those were the best estimates the doctors could provide, but as the over 48 million of my fellow Americans being treated for this illness have come to discover — there is no timeline for healing, there is no timeline for recovery, only the work of getting better one day at a time.”
Kean said he went to the hospital several months ago for testing after experiencing health concerns and there received the depression diagnosis. His doctors recommended that he stay in the hospital for treatment, Kean said.
“Today I am grateful that I listened to my doctors,” Kean said. “I am grateful that I accepted help because today I stand before you healthier, stronger, and excited to return to the work that I love.”
Kean, 57, is running for a third term against Democrat Rebecca Bennett, a former Navy helicopter pilot and health care executive. Democrats have targeted the seat as a top pickup opportunity. The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter rates the seat as leaning toward Republicans. The site has not changed its rating on the race since November.
The son of former New Jersey Gov. Tom Kean Sr., Kean has long been part of one of the state’s most prominent Republican political families. He first won the seat in 2022 after defeating Democratic Rep. Tom Malinowski.
