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Rep. Tom Kean Jr. Wins NJ-7 GOP Nomination And Vows In-Person Return Within Weeks
Rep. Tom Kean Jr. secured the GOP nomination in New Jersey's 7th Congressional District and said he will return to in-person work on Capitol Hill "within a matter of weeks." CBS News
Kean's campaign released the June 2 statement as he ran unopposed in the primary, and he pledged to be "completely transparent as to the nature of my medical condition" when he returns.[1] He acknowledged missing more than 100 House roll-call votes and has not cast a vote since March 5, 2026.[1] Independent tallies show he missed 104 of the most recent roll calls.[2]
Former Navy helicopter pilot Rebecca Bennett won the Democratic primary and will face Kean in November in a race Cook Political Report rates a toss-up, making the contest a top target for both parties.[3][4]
Kean had previously described his situation as a "personal medical issue" and in late April said doctors expected a full recovery, but criticism intensified as Bennett called him a "coward" for his prolonged absence and voters voiced frustration.[1][3] Kean's chief of staff has discussed his status with reporters, and his father, former Gov. Tom Kean Sr., has reassured the public the illness is not expected to be long-term.[4]
Show source details & analysis (6 sources)
📌 Key Facts
- On June 2, 2026, Rep. Tom Kean Jr. issued a written statement saying he will transition from virtual work to in-person work on Capitol Hill “within a matter of weeks” and pledged to be “completely transparent as to the nature of my medical condition” when he returns (Rep. Tom Kean Jr.).
- Kean has missed more than 100 House roll-call votes and last cast a vote on March 5, 2026; GovTrack and reporting note he missed all 104 of the most recent roll calls and was recorded as “Not Voting” on at least one subsequent roll call (including May 21, 2026) (104 of the most recent roll call votes).
- On June 2, 2026, Democrat Rebecca Bennett won the crowded primary and secured the Democratic nomination to face Rep. Kean in November’s general election (Rebecca Bennett).
- New Jersey’s 7th District (NJ-7) is rated a toss-up by the Cook Political Report and is identified as one of the most vulnerable House Republican seats heading into the 2026 midterms (NJ-7).
- President Donald Trump endorsed Kean on June 1, 2026, praising him as “working tirelessly,” calling him a supporter of his agenda and highlighting topics such as border security, the economy, veterans and the Second Amendment (President Donald Trump).
- Rebecca Bennett, a former Navy helicopter pilot and first-time candidate, has centered her campaign on her service and affordability concerns (groceries, gasoline) and at a June 2 victory event in Bridgewater called Kean a “coward,” criticizing his votes on Trump-era tax legislation and other positions (Rebecca Bennett).
- Kean’s prolonged, unexplained absence prompted public confusion: his chief of staff spoke to the New York Times about his status, and former Gov. Tom Kean Sr. reassured the public in a CNN interview that his son’s illness would not be long-term or incapacitating (Tom Kean Sr.).
📰 Source Timeline (6)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
June 03, 2026
8:27 PM
New Jersey Democrats pick Navy veteran Rebecca Bennett to face absent GOP Rep. Tom Kean Jr.
New information:
- On Tuesday, June 2, 2026, former Navy helicopter pilot Rebecca Bennett won the Democratic primary in New Jersey's 7th Congressional District, defeating three other Democrats.
- The article describes NJ-7 as the state's premier November contest and notes the district includes bedroom communities, farm towns and President Donald Trump's Bedminster golf club.
- Bennett's campaign messaging centers on her Navy service and affordability concerns, including rising grocery and gasoline costs she links to the Iran war and Trump's tariffs, as well as her image as a working mom who drives a no-frills sedan.
- At a June 2 victory event in Bridgewater, Bennett called Kean a 'coward' and said he is 'failing us' and does not deserve to represent the district, criticizing his votes on Trump's tax legislation and his handling of Trump's rail-tunnel funding threat.
- The piece reiterates that Kean has not voted since early March 2026, highlighting that his absence has 'supercharged' interest in the race in a district that has ousted two incumbents in midterms over the past decade.
- The article notes a Democratic voter, Araz Shahinian, backed Bennett because he viewed her as more centrist and is worried about politics and rising prices, and another voter, Nina Ovryn, said Kean is 'basically absent' in the district and in Congress.
1:50 AM
Missing GOP congressman reveals he's 'more energized than ever' to return to Washington
New information:
- On Tuesday, June 2, 2026, Rep. Tom Kean Jr. issued a new written statement saying he is "more energized than ever" to keep fighting for New Jersey's 7th District and will return to in-person work in Washington "within a matter of weeks."
- Kean reiterated that he has been away from Capitol Hill for months addressing an undisclosed personal medical issue but said he is "optimistic about the road ahead" and currently focused on recovery under the advice of health-care professionals.
- He pledged that when he returns to in-person work he will be "completely transparent as to the nature of my medical condition" and stated that he understands the need for transparency on the matter.
- The article notes Kean has not cast a vote since March 5, 2026, and was marked "Not Voting" on at least one subsequent roll call on May 21, 2026.
- The piece reports that ahead of Kean's June 2, 2026, unopposed primary, President Donald Trump endorsed him in a June 1 Truth Social post, calling Kean a strong supporter of his "America First Agenda" and asserting Kean is "working tirelessly" on border security, crime, the economy, taxes, energy, veterans and Second Amendment issues.
- The article specifies that Democrat Rebecca Bennett edged out three Democratic rivals — Michael Roth, Tina Shah and Brian Varela — to win the June 2, 2026, Democratic nomination to face Kean in November.
1:14 AM
Dems pick challenger for GOP congressman who vanished from public view amid health mystery
New information:
- On Tuesday, June 2, 2026, Democrat Rebecca Bennett won a crowded primary and secured the Democratic nomination to face Rep. Tom Kean Jr. in New Jersey's 7th District, according to the Associated Press as cited by Fox News.
- The Fox News piece reiterates that Kean has missed all 104 of the most recent House roll call votes and last voted on March 5, 2026, citing GovTrack.
- Fox reports that Kean ran unopposed for the GOP nomination and characterizes the upcoming general election as potentially his toughest re-election fight yet in a district viewed as critical to House Republicans' slim majority.
- The article notes that Bennett, a former Navy helicopter pilot and first-time candidate, was the least progressive of the major Democratic contenders and was the only one who did not call for abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
- Fox quotes the National Republican Congressional Committee quickly attacking Bennett after her win, labeling her a 'tax-and-spend liberal' aligned with the House 'Squad.'
1:03 AM
GOP Rep Kean to face Bennett as Dems seek to oust absent GOP N.J. incumbent
New information:
- On Tuesday, June 2, 2026, CBS projected Rebecca Bennett the winner of the Democratic primary in New Jersey's 7th Congressional District, setting a November matchup against GOP Rep. Tom Kean Jr.
- The article notes NJ-7 is rated a toss up by the Cook Political Report and identifies it as one of the most vulnerable House Republican seats heading into the 2026 midterms.
- The piece reiterates Kean’s June 2 campaign statement that he will transition from virtual work to in-person work within a matter of weeks and will then be completely transparent about his medical condition, while emphasizing he has been physically absent from Congress since his last vote on March 5, 2026.
- President Donald Trump endorsed Kean on Monday, June 1, 2026, saying Kean is "working tirelessly" to achieve his priorities despite Kean’s prolonged absence from Washington.
- The article adds detail on public confusion about Kean’s whereabouts, including comments from his chief of staff to the New York Times and reassurances from former Gov. Tom Kean Sr. in a CNN interview that his son’s illness will not be long-term or incapacitating.
June 02, 2026
9:32 PM
GOP Rep. Kean returning to in-person work in "matter of weeks" after absence
New information:
- On Tuesday, June 2, 2026, Rep. Tom Kean Jr. issued a written statement saying he will transition from virtual work to in-person work on Capitol Hill 'within a matter of weeks.'
- Kean said that when he returns in person he will be 'completely transparent as to the nature of my medical condition.'
- He acknowledged he has missed more than 100 House votes since he last voted on March 5, 2026, and said he remains focused on his recovery under the advice of health care professionals.
- Kean released the new statement via his campaign on June 2, 2026, hours before polls closed in New Jersey’s primary, in which he is running unopposed for the GOP nomination in the 7th District.
- In an earlier April 27, 2026 statement, Kean had described his situation only as a 'personal medical issue' and said doctors expected a complete recovery, without specifying a timeline for returning to in-person work.