Republican Tom Kean Jr. said he was treated for depression during absence from Congress [View all]
Source: AP
Updated 11:22 AM EDT, June 30, 2026
WASHINGTON (AP) — New Jersey Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. revealed Tuesday that he spent months away from Congress being treated for depression. “It is physical, it is emotional, and until you experience it yourself, it is difficult to fully understand how powerful this illness can be,” he said on the House floor.
Kean’s reappearance comes after he won an uncontested primary on June 2 and months since he last voted in the House. “Today I stand before you healthier, stronger and excited to return to the work that I love,” Kean said.
A second-term lawmaker and scion of a New Jersey political family, Kean represents a battleground district that includes President Donald Trump’s Bedminster golf club. He’s missed more than 100 votes in Congress this year and hadn’t been seen publicly in Washington or his district despite winning the Republican nomination to serve another term.
The mystery over Kean’s absence carries potential political implications, given the competitive district he represents and the Republican Party’s narrow control of the House. His office has said he is still running for reelection and is set to face Democratic nominee Rebecca Bennett, a former Navy helicopter pilot, in New Jersey’s most high-profile contest in November.
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/tom-kean-jr-new-jersey-congress-e7c40a55f06df86228f3646441532444
= new reply since forum marked as read