The New Jersey Republican told colleagues on the House floor that he had been battling severe depression and stepped away from Washington under a doctor’s orders.
The disclosure came after months of speculation over Kean’s absence, which began in early March and left constituents with few answers beyond vague statements about a “personal health issue.”
Kean missed more than 100 House votes during his time away, fueling concern from voters, political insiders and members of his own party.
His prolonged disappearance also created political headaches for Republicans, who are trying to hold a narrow House majority while defending one of the country’s most competitive districts.
Kean was greeted by a crowd of reporters when he returned to the Capitol on Tuesday.
He did not answer questions on his way to the House floor, choosing instead to address the issue in a formal speech.
Last week, Kean was seen outside his New Jersey home for the first time in months and told reporters he planned to return to Congress.
He also promised he would be “fully transparent” about what had happened once he was back in Washington.
Rep. Tom Kean says his absence from the House was due to depression pic.twitter.com/AbQRdc4d88
— Acyn (@Acyn) June 30, 2026
Kean had largely vanished from public view after his last House vote in March.
His office continued to describe the matter as a personal health issue but offered few details, leaving constituents and reporters pressing for answers.
The absence was especially notable because Kean is running for reelection in New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District, a swing seat that Democrats are aggressively targeting.
Kean won the Republican nomination for another term while he was still away from Washington.
His return and disclosure now shift the focus from speculation about his whereabouts to whether he can resume a full public schedule in a high-stakes election year.
For months, critics demanded more transparency from a sitting congressman who was missing votes while still seeking another term.
On Tuesday, Kean finally gave them an answer.
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