Tom Kean Jr. faces political challenges following extended absence

Republican Congressman Tom Kean Jr., representing New Jersey’s seventh district, is facing a tightening re-election race following a three-month absence from public life and Congress. During this period, Kean missed 100 votes without initial explanation. Upon his return in late June, he stated he had been hospitalized for depression.

Despite entering the cycle with significant advantages—including a campaign fund exceeding $2.4 million, a Donald Trump endorsement, and a redrawn district favorable to Republicans—his political standing has shifted. The Cook Political Report recently downgraded the district from “toss-up” to “lean Democrat.”

Kean’s Democratic opponent, Rebecca Bennett, a former Navy helicopter pilot and healthcare executive, has focused her campaign on affordability and criticism of administration policies. The race has become increasingly competitive as major Republican funding groups have reportedly withdrawn expenditures from the district.