{"id":2608688,"date":"2026-05-31T06:28:01","date_gmt":"2026-05-31T10:28:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/kean-to-be-renominated-despite-not-voting-in-house-since-march\/"},"modified":"2026-05-31T06:28:50","modified_gmt":"2026-05-31T10:28:50","slug":"kean-to-be-renominated-despite-not-voting-in-house-since-march","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/kean-to-be-renominated-despite-not-voting-in-house-since-march\/","title":{"rendered":"Kean to be renominated despite not voting in House since March"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fkean-to-be-renominated-despite-not-voting-in-house-since-march%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2608688&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Rep. Thomas Kean Jr.(R-NJ) is seeking reelection in New Jersey\u2019s 7th District despite being absent from Congress adn the campaign trail for months due to an undisclosed health issue. His June 2 GOP nomination is expected to be routine as he\u2019s the only Republican in the primary, and he has missed more than 100 House votes, with his last recorded vote on March 5.<\/p>\n<p>Kean has said through the New Jersey Globe that his doctors are confident he\u2019s on track for a full recovery and that he expects to return to Capitol Hill within the next couple of weeks. Still, the GOP has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/how-democratic-kingmaker-clyburn-has-selected-his-messages-of-support-for-biden-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"How Democratic kingmaker Clyburn has selected his messages of support for Biden - ...\">faced mounting concerns<\/a> about his capacity to campaign and vote, especially given the party\u2019s narrow House majority and upcoming votes on major legislation. Democrats see the seat as a top target; Kean is also the only New Jersey Republican listed by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee as \u201cDistricts in Play,\u201d and four Democrats are competing to challenge him.<\/p>\n<p>Behind the scenes, national Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Richard hudson said Kean told him by phone that he would return to Washington sometime in June. Kean\u2019s father, former Gov. Tom Kean sr., told CNN that his son is under a doctor\u2019s care and recovering from a serious but temporary illness, without providing further details.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/thomas-kean-jr\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"11036\">Thomas Kean Jr.<\/a> (R-NJ) is running for reelection in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/new-jersey\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1065\">New Jersey\u2019s<\/a> 7th District despite a monthslong absence from both Capitol Hill and the campaign trail due to an undisclosed health issue. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kean\u2019s nomination on June 2 is largely a formality, as he is the only Republican running in the GOP primary. The 57-year-old Kean has missed over 100 votes in the House, with his last vote being recorded on March 5.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4588575\/how-democrats-could-replace-platner-after-primary\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>How Democrats could replace Platner on the Maine Senate ticket after he wins the primary<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4588537\/platner-wife-sexually-explicit-texts-aide\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Graham Platner\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >wife raised sexually explicit texts<\/a> to a Senate campaign aide<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4587335\/mamdani-endorses-democratic-socialist-over-adriano-espaillat\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Mamdani endorses Democratic socialist over AIPAC-backed Adriano Espaillat in New York House race<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Few details have been shared regarding the congressman\u2019s illness, but Kean told the <em>New Jersey Globe<\/em> that he expects to make a full recovery and will be back on Capitol Hill in the \u201cnext couple of weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMy doctors are confident that I\u2019m on the road to a full recovery,\u201d Kean told the outlet. \u201cI understand the need for public transparency, and I appreciate the support of my constituents.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kean is still running for a third term in the 7th Congressional District, a purple swing seat that will be crucial to the GOP\u2019s effort to hold its <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/section\/news\/house\/\" type=\"category\" id=\"1250\">House<\/a> majority in November.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cCongressman Tom Kean has a long record of delivering results for New Jerseyans \u2013 first at the state level and now in Congress \u2013 and will continue to do so once he has recovered from this medical issue. In the meantime, we have staffed up in the district and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/our-prayers-are-with-rush-limbaughs-producer-issues-statement-amid-radio-hosts-absence\/\" title=\"\u2018Our Prayers Are With Rush...: Limbaugh...s Producer Issues Statement Amid Radio Host...s Absence\">remain fully committed<\/a> to his re-election in November,\u201d Kristen Cianci, the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/republican-national-committee\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"2059\">Republican National Committee\u2019s<\/a> Northeast regional communications director, told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> in a statement.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Still, GOP concerns have mounted during Kean\u2019s prolonged absence over whether he is able to run for reelection.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt\u2019s such a thin House majority \u2014 that seat is so crucial to the balance of power nationally,\u201d Republican Michael Crispi told the <em>Washington Examiner <\/em>during a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/tucker-explodes-at-biden-admin-over-alleged-nsa-spying-scandal-theyre-lying-refuse-to-answer-questions\/\" title=\"Tucker Explodes At Biden Admin Over Alleged NSA Spying Scandal: They...re Lying, Refuse To Answer Questions\">phone call earlier<\/a> this month. \u201cIt is so unfair to the people who pay his salary, it is so unfair to the Republican caucus that he\u2019s not being transparent on what\u2019s going on. I\u2019ve never seen this level of cover-up ever, except for during Joe Biden\u2019s presidential campaign.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Democrats are targeting Kean\u2019s seat as a prime pickup opportunity this November. Kean is the only New Jersey Republican placed on the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee\u2019s \u201cDistricts in Play\u201d target list.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cCareer politician Tom Kean Jr. has never been more vulnerable. He will be held accountable for betraying New Jersey families and for the damage he has inflicted when he\u2019s actually been in Washington to vote,\u201d DCCC spokesman Eli Cousin said in a statement. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Four Democrats are vying to take on Kean in November: Rebecca Bennett, a healthcare business owner and former Navy pilot; Michael Roth, a former Biden official; Tina Shah, a physician and former Obama and Biden adviser; and Brian Varela, the chairman of the Morris County Democratic Party Hispanic Caucus.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/nrcc\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"466\">National Republican Congressional Committee<\/a> Chairman Richard Hudson told reporters earlier this month that Kean told him he would be returning to Capitol Hill sometime in June during a phone call. Hudson added that Kean thanked him for giving him space to recover.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kean\u2019s attendance in the House will be crucial for GOP leadership in June, as they prepare to vote on several high-stakes pieces of legislation, including a $70 billion party-line immigration bill and the reauthorization of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. The House is also set to vote on a Democratic-led war powers resolution seeking to rein in President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4\">Donald Trump\u2019s<\/a> war in Iran.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kean\u2019s father, former New Jersey Gov. Tom Kean Sr., told CNN <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2026\/05\/15\/politics\/tom-kean-jr-absence-congress-under-doctors-care\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2026\/05\/15\/politics\/tom-kean-jr-absence-congress-under-doctors-care\">earlier this month<\/a> that his son is \u201cunder the care of a doctor,\u201d and is recovering from a serious, but temporary illness. Kean Sr. declined to provide details about his son\u2019s health at the time.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4460164\/trump-endorsement-tracker-gop-2026-election-primaries\/\">TRUMP ENDORSEMENT TRACKER: HERE\u2019S WHO THE PRESIDENT HAS PICKED IN GOP MIDTERM ELECTION PRIMARIES<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe\u2019s hopefully coming back soon and he\u2019s under the care of a doctor,\u201d Kean Sr. said. \u201cThey all agree he\u2019s going to be fine. He\u2019s under a doctor\u2019s care.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> has reached out to Kean Sr. for comment. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Rep. Thomas Kean Jr. (R-NJ) seeks reelection despite undisclosed illness<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2912,"featured_media":2608689,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26078723308522_cff1bb.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[6571,50402,5894,70307],"class_list":["post-2608688","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-elections","tag-leadership-2","tag-politics","tag-uk-parliament"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26078723308522_cff1bb.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2608688","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2912"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2608688"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2608688\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2608692,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2608688\/revisions\/2608692"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2608689"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2608688"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2608688"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2608688"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}