Rep. Tom Kean returned to the House floor Tuesday for the first time since early March, breaking months of unexplained absence to reveal he had been hospitalized and treated for depression.
The New Jersey Republican addressed colleagues directly, explaining that what began as routine testing evolved into an extended hospital stay after doctors diagnosed him with clinical depression. "I did not believe that this would result in a long-term stay," Kean said during his remarks. He emphasized that depression extends far beyond sadness, describing it as a condition that is "physical" and "emotional" in ways that outsiders struggle to comprehend.
Kean's four-month disappearance had left the Capitol guessing. He missed over 140 votes while away and his office provided no public explanation for his whereabouts, leaving colleagues telling reporters they had heard nothing from him. The void prompted national media attention, with outlets descending on his district to interview neighbors and search for answers about the two-term congressman.
The New Jersey congressman, 57, praised the medical team that treated him and acknowledged the importance of accepting professional help. "I stand before you healthier, stronger and excited to return to the work that I love," he told the House.
Kean's political circumstances add another layer to his absence. He represents a swing district expected to play a key role in determining House control this fall. He cruised through his June primary unchallenged but now faces Democrat Rebecca Bennett, a former Navy helicopter pilot, in what figures to be a competitive general election contest. Speaker Mike Johnson expressed confidence in Kean's electoral prospects, predicting he would win reelection easily.
After his floor speech, Kean declined to engage with waiting reporters and left the Capitol without further comment.
Author Sarah Mitchell: "Kean's willingness to name depression publicly could help break the stigma, but his radio silence for four months raised fair questions about transparency that a brief speech doesn't fully answer."
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