Tom Kean Jr returns to US House after depression treatment, ending 117-day absence

The return and revelation

Tom Kean Jr, the Republican representative for New Jersey's 7th district, returned to the Capitol on 30 June after a 117-day absence. In a short floor speech, he disclosed that he had received a diagnosis of depression and been hospitalized over the past months.

Several months ago, due to health concerns, I entered the hospital for some testing. I did not believe that this would result in a long-term stay. I was given the diagnosis of depression.

Kean said the doctors recommended he remain in hospital to address the illness, the fastest way to recovery, though he was initially hesitant. He described himself as a "private person by nature" and indicated he had not shared more earlier because he was still coming to terms with the diagnosis.

Four months of silence

Kean last voted on 5 March. His office released a statement in late April attributing the absence to a "personal health matter" and promising a return "soon". No timeline was given until 18 June, when it was announced he would come back on 30 June. During the 117 days he missed more than 100 consecutive House votes.

The prolonged radio silence fuelled speculation on Capitol Hill and among constituents. A New York Times reporter found Kean at his New Jersey home last week, but the congressman declined to comment. He spoke only through his prepared floor remarks, bypassing reporters' questions in the hallways.

Political fallout

The absence complicated the Republican leadership's hold on the narrow House majority. Kean, a two-term incumbent in a swing district, is considered New Jersey's most vulnerable Republican congressman. His prolonged absence drew criticism after reports that he had traded stocks during the months he was away, a point Democrats are likely to use in the November election.

Kean's message on mental health

Kean emphasised that recovery is possible, and that asking for help is not a weakness but a strength. He noted that over 48 million Americans are treated for depression and said he now returns with the full support of his doctors. The speech also prompted scrutiny of his past votes: Kean had supported the GOP's healthcare bill in July 2025, which critics say reduced access to mental health services for millions.

As the over 48 million of my fellow Americans being treated for this illness have come to discover, there is no timeline for healing. There is no timeline for recovery, only the work of getting better one day at a time.

He added that he believed the original estimates of a few weeks' absence, but now understands depression's unpredictable course.