Thomas Kean

A ‘missing’ US Congressman backed by Donald Trump has won the New Jersey Republican primary. Republican Tom Kean of New Jersey has not made a public appearance in months.

He has missed over 100 votes in Congress. Even voters are wondering about his whereabouts. Kean, who is seeking a third term in his New Jersey district, ran unopposed after securing Trump’s seal of approval.

The district in New Jersey is said to be one of the most competitive seats in the nation and will be keenly watched during the mid-terms. Kean will face ex-US Navy helicopter pilot Rebecca Bennett, a Democrat, in November.

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But where is Kean, the ‘missing’ US Congressman? What do we know about him?

A brief look at Kean

Kean represents New Jersey’s 7th district. He also serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee. According to Time Magazine, Kean is the son of ex two-term New Jersey governor Thomas Howard Kean, who also chaired the 9/11 Commission. He is also the grandson of former long-time New Jersey Representative Robert Kean. He is also a descendant of William Livingston, who served as the first governor of New Jersey, as per Al Jazeera.

Kean graduated from Dartmouth College and attended the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. He got his master’s degree in law and diplomacy from Tufts and served as a graduate school instructor. Kean also did his doctoral studies ABD at Fletcher. Kean lives with his wife Rhonda, and their two daughters reside in New Jersey’s Westfield.

According to his website, Kean began volunteering at a young age. He also taught Sunday school at his church. His career began when he was appointed to work in the Environmental Protection Agency by then-President George HW Bush. Kean then worked as a legislative staffer in New Jersey Congressman Bob Franks’ Washington office. He advised the Congressman on commerce, energy resources, environmental issues, and foreign affairs.

Kean also served as vice president of a fire department, where he volunteered as a firefighter and an emergency medical technician. Kean, in 2001, was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly. He was then appointed to the New Jersey Senate, where he worked for nearly a decade and a half.

Trump on Monday took to his Truth Social account to post that Kean is a “Tremendous Advocate of our America First Agenda” and “is working tirelessly”.

Where is Kean?

That remains the question.

According to the BBC, Kean was last seen publicly in March. He went ‘missing’ after his last vote in Congress in March. This caused Republican officials and news organisations to raise concerns. Meanwhile, there was no reply to text messages or requests for interviews. An aide told The New York Times, “There’s no cameras where Tom is.”

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Kean’s staff in April said he is dealing with a medical issue and that he would be back ‘very soon’. Kean next took to social media to provide an update: “My doctors continue to assure me that my recovery will be complete and that I will be back to the job I love very soon. I expect to return to a full schedule and be at 100 per cent.”

Kean in May told The New Jersey Globe that he would be back in the “next couple of weeks”. During the interview, Kean confirmed he would continue running for office in the 7th district. “I understand the need for public transparency, and I appreciate the support of my constituents,” Kean said. “I anticipate that in the next couple of weeks, I’ll return to voting and to the campaign trail.”

According to The New York Times, Kean has reached out to a number of Republican officials in his state. The outlet reported that Kean recently called Carlos Santos, Union County’s Republican chairman, and Joe LaBarbera, Sussex County’s Republican chairman. Asked about what Kean required, LaBarbera said, “just your prayers”. Santos, meanwhile, said that Kean “sounded healthy”.

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Other county leaders, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, also received calls from Kean. Johnson said he spoke to Kean “a few weeks ago”. “I don’t even know the details, and I respect that. It’s members’ personal privacy on whatever matters they’re dealing with,” Johnson added.

The political news website NOTUS reported that Kean had not been seen by his neighbours in New Jersey. The lights have not been on at his home for a few weeks. The outlet cited a congressional stock transaction form signed by Kean as showing that he made five stock trades in April.

A number of Democrats fighting Bennett for the top spot in the party’s primary had gone after Kean.

“If you were missing work, you would tell your boss, and Tom Kean Jr.’s boss is the people. He did not tell us. That’s it. And in the time that he did not show up for work, he has raised more than $600,000 (Rs 5 crore) just from corporate PACs alone. That tells you who his boss is,” Democratic candidate Michael Roth was quoted as saying by _Time Magazine. “_It is time that we get a member of Congress who will show up.”

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Tina Shah, another candidate, also slammed Kean: “What we are being assured is that his team is carrying the torch, but we elected Tom Kean Jr., not his team.”

However, Bennett, who prevailed in the primary, steered clear of Kean’s health. She instead wished Kean a speedy recovery and took aim at his record in Congress, including the battle over money for a new railway tunnel connecting New Jersey with New York City.

“He was nowhere to be found when funding got cut for the Gateway Tunnel, which is a critical infrastructure project in our district,” she said. “You are failing us, and you do not deserve to represent us in Washington,” Bennett told supporters, as per Al Jazeera. She also called Kean a “coward”.

Why this race matters

Because the Republicans only have a small majority to defend in the US Congress. In the House, Johnson

cannot afford more than a handful of defections if he wants to pass any law. Meanwhile, the upcoming mid-term elections all point to a bloodbath for the Republicans. The Democrats are widely expected to take over the House – rendering Trump a lame-duck president.

Kean, who has a cash advantage at this point over his potential Democratic opponents, still has time before the November election to connect with voters, said Benjamin Dworkin, director of the Rowan Institute for Public Policy & Citizenship.

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“The issue is not going to be that he was out for a hundred-plus votes in the spring,” he said. “The question is really, how effective is he going to get once he returns?”

Kean’s district is also considered a purple district, also known as a swing district. If it falls to the Democrats, it could be a precursor of things to come for the Republicans.

FAQs

1. Why is Tom Kean being called a ‘missing’ Congressman?

He has not made a public appearance since March and has missed over 100 votes in Congress, raising concerns about his whereabouts.

2. Has Tom Kean addressed his absence?

Yes, his team cited a medical issue, and Kean himself has said he expects to return to full duties soon.

3. Why is this election significant?

Kean’s district is a key swing seat, and its outcome could influence the balance of power in the US House of Representatives.

With inputs from agencies