{"id":2609828,"date":"2026-06-02T21:31:02","date_gmt":"2026-06-03T01:31:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/tom-kean-jr-set-to-face-rebecca-bennett-in-november\/"},"modified":"2026-06-02T21:31:35","modified_gmt":"2026-06-03T01:31:35","slug":"tom-kean-jr-set-to-face-rebecca-bennett-in-november","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/tom-kean-jr-set-to-face-rebecca-bennett-in-november\/","title":{"rendered":"Tom Kean Jr. set to face Rebecca Bennett in November"},"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\">20<\/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%2Ftom-kean-jr-set-to-face-rebecca-bennett-in-november%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=2609828&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) won re-nomination as the Republican nominee for New Jersey\u2019s 7th District despite keeping the public largely in the dark about an unspecified medical issue that kept him out of view for months. He faced no GOP primary opponent and will now compete in November against Democrat Rebecca Bennett, whom the Associated Press projected to win her race with 47.7% of the vote (vs. 20.2% for Tina Shah).<\/p>\n<p>Kean\u2019s office has shared few details about his condition, but Kean said he is \u201cmore energized than ever\u201d and expects to move from virtual work to in-person work within weeks, adding that he plans to be transparent about the nature of his medical condition when he returns. As March 5, he has missed more than 100 House votes, prompting concern among House Republicans about whether he can maintain the seat.<\/p>\n<p>House GOP leaders have spoken with Kean but say they still do not know the exact medical details. Speaker Mike Johnson said leadership expects Kean back soon and expects him to be fully transparent. Kean and GOP officials maintain he will run for reelection, and Trump also endorsed him, praising his alignment with the \u201cAmerica First\u201d agenda.<\/p>\n<p>Criticism continues from Democrats, including Bennett, who argues Kean\u2019s absence and voting record show he failed the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >district-citing issues tied<\/a> to health insurance, ICE-related actions, and funding for the Gateway Tunnel. Democrats are also treating the seat as a major target this November, with Kean being the only New Jersey Republican on the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee\u2019s \u201cdistricts in Play\u201d list.  <\/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) won renomination as the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/republican\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"926\">Republican<\/a> nominee for <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/new-jersey\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1065\">New Jersey<\/a>\u2019s 7th Congressional District after Tuesday night\u2019s primaries despite an unspecified medical issue that kept him out of the public eye for months. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kean, 57, was unopposed in the GOP primary and is set to face off against the Democratic nominee, former Navy pilot Rebecca Bennett, in the general election. The <em>Associated Press<\/em> called the race for Bennett at 8:56 p.m. With 48% of ballots counted, 39-year-old Bennett held 47.7% of the vote, compared to second-place finisher, 42-year-old Tina Shah, who earned 20.2%.<\/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\/house\/4592290\/tom-kean-return-house-absence-matter-of-weeks\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Tom Kean Jr. says he will return to in-person work in \u2018matter of weeks\u2019 after prolonged House absence<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4591938\/graham-platner-makes-senate-democrats-squirm-blitz-dc\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Graham Platner makes Senate Democrats squirm with blitz through DC<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4592108\/jimmy-gomez-under-investigation-sexual-misconduct-report\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Rep. Jimmy Gomez under investigation over sexual misconduct, report says<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Few details have been shared by Kean\u2019s office about his health, though the congressman said in a Tuesday afternoon statement that he is \u201cmore energized than ever\u201d to fight for the district and would \u201ctransition from virtual work to in person work within a matter of weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAt that time, I will be completely transparent as to the nature of my medical condition,\u201d Kean wrote. \u201cOnce again, I appreciate all of the prayers and patience from my constituents and colleagues. I understand the need for transparency on this matter, and I look forward to sharing my experience with the public.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kean, who has represented the district since 2023, has missed over 100 votes in the House since March 5, when he last cast a vote.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The New Jersey Republican\u2019s absence has sparked GOP worry over whether he will be able to maintain his seat in November. Kean is seeking his third term in Congress in one of the most competitive seats in the nation that will be crucial to the GOP\u2019s effort to hold its House majority.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">House GOP leadership has confirmed they have spoken directly to Kean. However, they say they don\u2019t know the exact details about his medical issue. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/his-heroism-and-his-restraint-saved-lives-attorney-speaks-out-after-police-lieutenant-who-shot-and-killed-ashli-babbitt-lawyers-up\/\" title=\"\u201cHis Heroism and His Restraint Saved Lives\u201d- Attorney Speaks Out after Police Lieutenant Who Shot and Killed Ashli Babbitt Lawyers Up\">told reporters recently<\/a> that leadership was \u201cexpecting him back here soon,\u201d and that he expected Kean would be \u201cfully transparent\u201d regarding his health.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kean and GOP leadership have maintained that he is able to run for reelection, with the congressman simply telling the <em>New Jersey Globe<\/em>, \u201cI\u2019m running.\u201d Kean\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/arizona-secretary-of-state-wants-to-be-governor-shes-showed-up-to-work-19-days-in-the-last-6-months\/\" title=\"Arizona Secretary Of State Wants To Be Governor. She\u2019s Showed Up To Work 19 Days In The Last 6 Months\">prolonged absence<\/a> is likely to become a flash point in the general election. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is an avenue for Kean to drop out post-primary, should he need to. Under New Jersey election law, any <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/lis.njleg.state.nj.us\/nxt\/gateway.dll\/statutes\/1\/20305\/20471?f=templates$fn=document-frameset.htm$q=%5Brank,100%3A%5Bdomain%3A%5Band%3Apost-primary%20vacancy%5D%5D%20%5Bsum%3Apost-primary%20vacancy%5D%20%5D%20$x=server$3.0#LPHit1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/tom-kean-jr-says-he-will-return-to-in-person-work-in-matter-of-weeks\/\" title=\"Tom Kean Jr. says he will return to in-person work in &#039;matter of weeks&#039;\">post-primary vacancy<\/a><\/a> is filled by the local GOP committee leaders. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">President Donald Trump endorsed Kean in a Monday night Truth Social post, saying that Kean is a \u201cTremendous Advocate of our America First Agenda.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He continued, \u201cTom is working tirelessly to Keep our Border SECURE, Stop Migrant Crime, Grow our Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Champion Small Business, Unleash American Energy DOMINANCE, Support our Brave Military and Veterans, and Protect our always under siege Second Amendment.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While Kean himself has been absent since March, his social accounts have remained active, and the congressman <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4582714\/thomas-kean-jr-stock-trades-despite-monthslong-house-absence\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4582714\/thomas-kean-jr-stock-trades-despite-monthslong-house-absence\/\">has certified several stock trades<\/a> made on his behalf. He has also <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.notus.org\/congress\/tom-kean-staff-trips-missing\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.notus.org\/congress\/tom-kean-staff-trips-missing\">signed off on \u201cgift travel\u201d expenses<\/a> for his staff, according to <em>NOTUS<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During a primary debate last month, Bennett, Kean\u2019s Democratic challenger, said she hopes the congressman has a \u201cspeedy recovery\u201d but argued his voting record showed he has \u201cfailed\u201d the district.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe was the deciding vote on the One Big Beautiful Bill, which is why 10s of 1000s of people in our district are losing access to their health insurance,\u201d Bennett said. \u201cHe was nowhere to be found when ICE tried to put a detention facility into Roxbury, and he was nowhere to be found when Trump held up the funding for the Gateway Tunnel to make sure we get this critical infrastructure done, and so we are going to hold him accountable for his voting record in November and flip the seat.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4570695\/questions-rep-thomas-kean-jr-house-absent-illness\/\"><strong>QUESTIONS MOUNT AS REP. THOMAS KEAN JR. REMAINS ABSENT AMID UNDISCLOSED ILLNESS<\/strong><\/a><\/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 previous statement.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Rep. Thomas Kean Jr. wins GOP renomination despite undisclosed illness<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2912,"featured_media":2609829,"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\/2024\/11\/Thomas-Kean-Jr.webp?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[12475,80741,80740,80739,78370],"class_list":["post-2609828","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-boxing","tag-matchup-announcement","tag-november-fight","tag-rebecca-bennett","tag-tom-kean-jr"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Thomas-Kean-Jr.webp?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2609828","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=2609828"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2609828\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2609832,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2609828\/revisions\/2609832"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2609829"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2609828"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2609828"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2609828"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}