N.J. 7th District: Kean Returns After Months-Long Absence; Bennett Wins Democratic Primary

Incumbent Tom Kean Jr. (R) is back on the job after an undisclosed medical leave, while former Navy pilot Rebecca Bennett prepares for a competitive general election.

Incumbent's Absence and Return

Representative Tom Kean Jr. last voted in the House of Representatives on March 5, 2025. His office confirmed he was dealing with a personal medical issue. During his absence, he missed over 100 votes. The timing of his absence occurred as House Republicans held a narrow majority.

On Tuesday, Kean stated he would return to the Capitol "within a matter of weeks" and would be "completely transparent as to the nature of my medical condition." His office confirmed he remains a candidate for reelection and is expected to return to work.

"I will be completely transparent as to the nature of my medical condition."
— Rep. Tom Kean Jr.

Reactions to the Absence

Different individuals and groups offered varying perspectives on Kean's absence and the lack of public detail regarding his condition.

House Leadership

Speaker Mike Johnson stated he was aware of a medical issue and expected Kean to return soon. He noted that he had spoken with Kean, who "sounded great."

Family

Former New Jersey Governor Tom Kean Sr. described his son's condition as a "serious but temporary illness" and said he was expected to make a full recovery.

Constituents

Voters in the 7th District expressed mixed views. Somerville resident Bobby Anderson called the absence "pretty shocking and fairly alarming to me as a voter." Another constituent, Cindy Capodice, said she did not believe Kean was required to share details of his health, stating, "I think there's a good amount of privacy that people are allowed to have, whether they're in office or not."

Political Colleagues

State Senate Minority Leader Jon Bramnick expressed concern, noting Kean's history of diligent attendance. Other GOP colleagues expressed frustration over the lack of public communication from Kean's office.

Democratic Primary Candidates

The four Democratic candidates criticized Kean for not communicating with constituents during his absence.

Democratic Primary Outcome

Rebecca Bennett, a former Navy helicopter pilot and healthcare executive, won the Democratic primary, as projected by NBC News. She defeated physician Tina Shah, former Small Business Administration official Michael Roth, and business owner Brian Varela.

Bennett stated that her military and healthcare background "uniquely positioned me to flip this seat." During the primary, she faced attacks from Shah for having previously been registered as a Republican. Bennett’s campaign stated she grew up in a Republican family but registered as a Democrat after Donald Trump became the GOP nominee in 2016. A super PAC, Real Change PAC, spent over $600,000 on the race, running ads portraying Bennett as soft on Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

General Election Campaign Context

Bennett will face Representative Kean in the general election. The 7th Congressional District is considered a closely divided swing seat. President Donald Trump carried it by 1 percentage point in the 2024 election.

Campaign statements from both sides have been issued:

Bennett: In an interview last month, she said she wished Kean a "speedy recovery" but stated that "he has absolutely failed this district." She noted Kean was the deciding vote on legislation she claims caused "tens of thousands of people in the district to lose access to health insurance."

National Republican Congressional Committee: Spokeswoman Maureen O’Toole said, "Tom Kean Jr.’s record speaks for itself: He’s lowered taxes, cut costs, and made New Jersey’s communities safer," and called Bennett "a tax-and-spend liberal."

Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee: Congratulated Bennett and criticized Kean for "years of broken promises."

"He has absolutely failed this district."
— Rebecca Bennett, Democratic nominee

Legal Context

Under New Jersey law, if Kean were to withdraw after the primary, the vacancy would be filled by the state's GOP county committee leaders.