Donald Trump threw his weight behind New Jersey Republican Tom Kean Jr. on Monday night, calling him a tireless advocate for the seventh district. There was one problem: Kean hasn't been seen publicly since early March.
The congressman cast his last House floor vote on March 5 and has been out ever since, his office citing a "personal medical issue" in late April. When Kean spoke to the New Jersey Globe last month, he suggested a return within weeks. Nearly two months have now passed with no public appearance.
Yet Kean cruises toward an uncontested Republican primary victory on Tuesday. His social media presence remains robust, with staff members cutting ribbons and attending graduations in his stead while the absent lawmaker presumably rests.
Trump's endorsement, posted to Truth Social on Monday night, made no reference to Kean's prolonged absence. The former president praised him for defending the border, fighting crime, and protecting gun rights. Kean's office did not respond to requests about whether the congressman was aware of the endorsement or his current condition.
What happens after Tuesday's primary, however, has quietly alarmed Republican leadership. House Speaker Mike Johnson has spoken privately with Kean but has not been given a return date, according to three GOP leadership sources. Republican colleagues are increasingly anxious about November's general election, where four well-funded Democratic candidates are preparing to compete for the seat.
Each of the Democratic contenders has raised over $1 million. Some Republicans have begun quietly exploring what New Jersey law would require if Kean won tonight but remained unable to serve afterward. The concern cuts deeper than typical primary jockeying: a seat held by the GOP could flip to Democrats if the current holder cannot mount a credible general election campaign.
Trump's endorsement signal was clear and emphatic. But it arrived for a candidate who has been functionally absent from his job for nearly three months, running as an incumbent in a district where the opposition has already mobilized and begun stockpiling resources.
Author James Rodriguez: "You don't get to hide from voters for months and then expect your party's machine to carry you across the finish line, especially when the other side is already building a war chest."
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