NJ Rep. Tom Kean Jr. reveals why he disappeared from Congress for 4 months

✅U.S. Rep. Tom Kean Jr. said he was diagnosed with depression during hospital testing

✅The 7th District Republican has not voted in Congress since March

✅Kean said he received treatment and is ready to return to work

The veil of mystery on U.S. Rep. Tom Kean Jr.'s health issues was partially lifted during a speech on the floor of the House of Representatives.

Speaking to a nearly empty chamber on Tuesday morning, Kean revealed that during a hospital visit for testing, he was diagnosed with depression. Doctors recommended that a hospital stay would be the best course of recovery to "address his illness."

He did not explain, however, why he chose to remain silent about the diagnoses for nearly four months. Other federal lawmakers in recent years have been forthright about their struggles with mental health, including U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., who revealed in 2023 when he was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to receive treatment for depression.

Kean has not voted in Congress since March and missed 140 House votes as well as his primary election earlier this month. His office issued several statements, which essentially said he was recovering from a health issue but did not disclose details about where he was or how long he would be unable to personally tend to his congressional duties.

"When people hear the word depression, many people think it simply means feeling sad, but depression is so much more than that. It is physical, it is emotional, and until you experience it yourself, it is difficult to fully understand how powerful this illness can be," Kean said.

Democratic challenger reacts to announcement

Rebecca Bennett, the Democrat challenging Kean in November, said she was "relieved" Kean is well and wished him good health but also criticized his policy positions and the "self-serving culture in Washington," saying he "still somehow found time to trade stocks while missing votes."

"I got into this race because Tom Kean Jr. was failing our community long before this absence," Bennett said in a written statement. "He was the deciding vote on the One Big Beautiful Bill, which jacked up health care costs for everyone and kicked thousands off of their health insurance in our district. He has consistently failed to stand up for our communities, including when funding for the Gateway project was threatened. And he voted in favor of a reckless war that has made everything more expensive for New Jersey families."

NJ State Republican Committee Chair Christine Hanlon called for Bennett to apologize for comments she made about Kean's health before his speech. She called for Bennett to apologize or to get out of the race.

"She repeatedly called Tom Kean a ‘coward’ while he was privately facing one of the greatest challenges any person can endure. Those words were not just false. They were ugly, cruel, and beneath the dignity of anyone seeking public office," Hanlon said.

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Treatment helped him return to work

The Republican said he did not believe he had time for a hospital stay and could just "push through." It took him some time to understand just how much depression was affecting his life.

"Today I am grateful that I listened to my doctors, and I am grateful for the exceptional care that I received from doctors, nurses, and support staff. I am grateful that I accepted help, because today I stand before you healthier, stronger, and excited to return to the work that I love," Kean said.

Kean did not address his diagnosis in detail or where he received treatment. Michah Rasmussen, director of the Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics, said as a result the speech fell short of the "full disclosure" promised by his office ahead of the House speech.

"He didn't answer any questions. He didn't talk about why he felt that he could not say more for four months, why he felt that he had to go radio silent. That's the part that I think voters are going to have to continue to reckon with," Rasmussen told New Jersey 101.5.

Rasmussen said that while the congressman has a right to privacy with his health he also has to understand that the public was looking for more of an explanation. The speech on the House floor did not offer an opportunity for questions from the public or the media. Kean will probably gauge the reaction to his speech to determine if more details are needed.

Rasmussen said that because the lack of information before Tuesday helped push the story into the political spotlight and raise the level of curiosity.

"It was almost like, 'Where's Waldo.' Could anybody get a sighting of him," Rasmussen said. "I don't think that every illness does rise to this level, but in this case it did, because people were so curious and so interested, and it became such a big national story."

House Speaker Mike Johnson was the only person outside of his family Kean confided in. At Kean's request, Johnson did not discuss their conversation publicly.

Kean was unchallenged in the Republican primary in June. He will face Democrat Rebecca Bennett in the November election. He has the first of several scheduled campaign fundraisers on Tuesday.

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