NJ Congressman Faces Scrutiny Over Extended Absence in First Debate

New Jersey Representative Tom Kean Jr. was directly questioned about his 116-day absence from Congress due to mental health struggles during his first and only televised debate against Democratic challenger Rebecca Bennett.

Moderator David Wildstein asked Kean whether he had made the "responsible" decision by not informing constituents sooner about the medical emergency that kept him away from his duties earlier this year. Kean, a Republican seeking reelection in New Jersey's 7th Congressional District, stated that his absence stemmed from a medical emergency and that his office had kept constituents informed about his treatment.

"Nobody can plan a medical emergency and that was a medical emergency," Kean said during the debate. He maintained that he was transparent about his depression diagnosis once he was able to speak publicly.

His prolonged absence had previously drawn comment from within his own party. Former New Jersey Attorney General John J. Farmer Jr. stated in late May that Kean, as a public figure running for reelection, should be "as transparent as he can be with the public." New Jersey Republican state Senator Jon Bramnick acknowledged the concern, calling Kean's absence "a big deal" as voters questioned his whereabouts.

However, House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed a more sympathetic view on June 3, stating, "people are entitled to get sick" and that Kean's situation was "not a scandalous thing at all." Johnson indicated he knew the nature of Kean's health issue but respected his privacy.

Bennett used the debate to pivot to her campaign's core arguments, particularly Kean's voting record and alignment with former President Donald Trump's agenda. However, the debate also highlighted areas where Kean sought to differentiate himself from Trump.

One such area was the proposed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Roxbury, located within Kean's district. A 470,000-square-foot warehouse was purchased by federal officials in February for $129.3 million, with the intention of converting it into a detention facility. The state and Roxbury Township have filed multiple lawsuits seeking injunctions to halt the conversion, leading to ongoing legal battles and pauses in construction.

Kean stated, "My focus is to make sure we don't have an ICE facility in Roxbury." Bennett responded by noting that this was the first time Kean had explicitly stated his position on the facility.

Kean also pointed to disagreements with Trump over funding for the Gateway rail tunnel project, a roughly $16 billion effort to build new tunnels under the Hudson River and repair existing ones connecting New Jersey and New York. He argued that these instances demonstrated his willingness to challenge Trump when New Jersey's interests were at stake.

Conversely, Kean expressed support for several of Trump's key policies. He defended his vote for the "One Big Beautiful Bill," arguing for its economic benefits through tax cuts. Bennett criticized the bill's healthcare provisions and its impact on the national debt.

Kean also supported Trump's use of tariffs, asserting they were justified and that the president should have broad authority to use them as leverage. Regarding Iran, Kean backed Trump's military action, emphasizing that Iran should not be permitted to obtain a nuclear weapon. Bennett countered that the military action was making the United States less safe and questioned the clarity of objectives and exit strategies.

On the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Kean strongly supported Israel and defended its actions, while Bennett adopted a more critical stance toward the Israeli government's conduct.

Recent polling indicates a close race in New Jersey's 7th Congressional District. An Insider NJ/StimSight Research survey conducted between September 8-12 among 498 likely voters found Bennett leading Kean by a margin of 47 percent to 42 percent.