‘Radio Silence’: New Jersey Republican has been missing from Congress for a month, and his own colleagues haven’t heard from him in days

Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-NJ) has not cast a vote in Congress since March 5, making it over a month since he last showed up to do his job. The 57-year-old congressman from New Jersey‘s seventh district has been dealing with unspecified health problems, but the details of his condition remain unclear, even to his fellow House Republicans. His prolonged absence has started to draw attention from both sides of the aisle.

Kean’s New Jersey Republican colleagues, including Reps. Jeff Van Drew and Chris Smith, say they have been kept in the dark about where he is or what is going on. House Republicans from New York who have worked with Kean on legislation said the same. Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) told Politico he did not even know Kean was absent until he tried to find him on the House floor on Tuesday.

Rep. Van Drew described the situation as “radio silence.” Even the Union County Republican Chair Carlos Santos said he was confused, though he told Politico that he had been texting with Kean and was told that he “would be fine and make a full recovery in the next couple of weeks.” That statement, however, has raised more questions than it has answered, given that no official explanation has been provided about the nature of his health problems.

Kean’s unexplained absence is raising serious questions about his ability to do his job

A consultant for Kean, Harrison Neely, tried to offer some reassurance, saying that the congressman “will be back on a regular full schedule very soon.” But with no concrete information about his condition, many are left wondering what is actually going on. The lack of any direct communication from Kean himself has only added to the confusion.

This comes at a time when GOP members face growing pressure over party loyalty, making any sign of weakness or absence even more politically costly.  This is not the first time Kean has been absent from Congress. Kean made headlines last year when he attended a golf outing at a private golf and country club while he has been away from Congress.

This raised eyebrows because Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) had told GOP colleagues not to hold fundraisers during the government shutdown, warning that it could open them up to political attacks. According to RawStory, Kean’s attendance at the event appeared to break that rule, and it has left many questioning his priorities during this period.

The fundraiser also came at a time when healthcare costs in New Jersey are set to rise sharply. Premiums for those who buy health insurance through the state’s exchange are expected to increase by 175% in 2026. Democrats have been using this to pressure Republicans into extending Affordable Care Act subsidies as part of any continuing resolution.

For a congressman already absent from the floor, being tied to a fundraiser during a shutdown only deepens the political damage. Rep. Rob Menendez (D-NJ) said he hopes Kean is doing all right, but added that he has not heard anything about his condition or whereabouts. “It has been a long absence,” Menendez noted, reflecting the broader sense of concern and uncertainty that has grown around the situation.

The fact that even members of his own party have been unable to get answers speaks to just how little information has been shared. Kean’s district is considered a toss-up heading into the next election cycle, and his extended absence from Congress has raised real concerns about his ability to serve his constituents.

With Republicans already worried about losing seats in the midterms, the questions surrounding his health, his whereabouts, and his commitment to his duties are only likely to grow louder if he continues to stay out of sight. New Jersey’s primaries are approaching, and voters in his district will be watching closely.