NJ Rep Tom Kean says he's been too depressed to serve his constituents in Congress—he's been out for 4 MONTHS

New Jersey Rep. Tom Kean Jr. revealed Tuesday that it was depression that had kept him away from Congress during the four-month period in which no explanation was given for his absences. The Republican had last voted on March 5 and had missed numerous votes since, per the AP. Speaker Mike Johnson, who was already dealing with a razor-thin majority prior to Kean's disappearance, told outlets that he had spoken to Kean and that he was dealing with an undefined medical issue.

Kean, 57, talked about his bout with depression on the house floor. "Talking about myself has never come naturally," Kean said. "But I believe that I owe an explanation to the people of New Jersey's seventh district, to my colleagues in this chamber, and to the American people for my absence." 

He said he entered the hospital due to health concerns for some testing, and was "given the diagnosis of depression." He went on to describe depression as both "physical" and "emotional," adding, "Until you experience it yourself, it is difficult to fully understand how powerful this illness can be."

He said his doctors recommended that he remain in the hospital to address his depression, saying "they explained to me that this would be the fastest way to recovery." He said he was hesitant to take such action given his responsibilities, adding that he is "grateful that I listened to my doctors."

Kean also said he was eager to return to work. "I am grateful that I accepted help," he said. "Today I stand before you healthier, stronger and excited to return to the work that I love."

Kean's opponent in the race for New Jersey's 7th district, Democrat and former Navy pilot Rebecca Bennet, had previously called him a coward, capitalizing on his unexplained absence in her bid to flip the seat back to democrats in the upcoming midterm election. After Kean reappeared and explained the reasoning behind his disappearance, Bennet wished him good health but said she got into the race because “Tom Kean Jr. was failing our community long before this absence.”

Kean is not the first member of Congress to deal so publicly with depression; in 2023, Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman took leave from Congress to receive treatment for clinical depression after previously recovering from a stroke. His return to the Senate sparked broader conversations about mental health among elected officials and the importance of seeking treatment without stigma.