Republican Congressman Tom Kean Jr. is expected to return to Washington next week after nearly four months away from Capitol Hill due to a serious medical condition, but his Democratic opponent is already facing scrutiny over remarks she made about his absence.
NEW JERSEY — Democratic congressional candidate Rebecca Bennett is drawing attention after publicly calling Republican Congressman Tom Kean Jr. a “coward” while he remains sidelined by a medical condition that has kept him away from Congress since March.
Kean, who represents New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District, has not voted in the U.S. House of Representatives since March 5. According to congressional records, he has missed more than 130 House votes during his absence.
His office has repeatedly stated that he is dealing with a personal medical issue and is expected to make a full recovery. Kean has announced plans to return to in-person duties on June 30.
Despite those statements, Bennett sharply criticized the congressman during a recent campaign appearance.
“Tom Kean, Jr. Wherever you are, you have failed this district,” Bennett said.
“You were nowhere to be found…Simply put, you are a coward. You do not deserve to represent us in Washington.”
Kean’s illness largely kept private
The exact nature of Kean’s medical condition has not been publicly disclosed.
House Speaker Mike Johnson has described the issue as uncommon but temporary, while Kean’s father, former New Jersey Governor Tom Kean Sr., has characterized it as a serious illness from which his son is expected to recover.
Kean’s office has maintained that he intends to be fully transparent about his condition once he resumes congressional duties.
The congressman’s absence has also had implications for House Republicans, who hold a narrow majority in the chamber and have operated with limited margins during key votes.
Bennett will face Kean in November
Bennett secured the Democratic nomination and will challenge Kean in the general election this fall.
According to her campaign biography, Bennett was born and raised in Texas before spending part of her youth in Bridgewater. She does not say why or how much time she spent in Bridgewater growing up, but she attended high school at the Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science and later graduated from Cornell University.
Bennett and her husband moved to New Jersey in 2019. Bennett’s husband is Alex Hydrean, a fellow Navy veteran. He works as a Senior Manager in the Department of Energy, He was hired to that position during the Biden administration and had previously worked at different levels of New Jersey state government prior, under Governor Phil Murphy in the New Jersey Economic Development Authority.
The campaign has highlighted her military background and public service experience as central qualifications for seeking federal office.
Race expected to be closely watched
New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District remains one of the state’s most competitive congressional seats.
Kean won reelection in 2024 and ran unopposed in the Republican primary earlier this month.
His extended absence from Congress has become a focal point for Democrats seeking to flip the district, while Republicans have pointed to his medical condition and expected return as evidence that the issue is temporary.
Kean has indicated he will resume voting and constituent work in person when Congress reconvenes following his return.
The congressman has also said he plans to discuss his medical condition publicly once he is back at work.
Questions remain ahead of return
With Kean expected back in Washington on June 30, attention is likely to shift from his absence to his recovery and the issues that will define the campaign heading into November.
The race is expected to draw national attention as both parties compete for control of closely divided House seats across the country.
For now, Bennett’s remarks have added another layer to an already high-profile contest, placing renewed focus on Kean’s health-related absence and the tone of the campaign as Election Day approaches.
Key Points
• Rep. Tom Kean Jr. has been absent from Congress since March 5 due to an undisclosed medical condition.
• Democratic challenger Rebecca Bennett called Kean a “coward” and said he had “failed” the district during his absence.
• Kean is scheduled to return to Capitol Hill on June 30 and has said he plans to publicly discuss his medical condition.
• Bennett, a Navy veteran and former Air National Guard member, moved back to New Jersey in 2019 and will face Kean in November.
