Tom Kean Jr. reveals depression diagnosis after months away from Congress

More than 48 million Americans are being treated for depression, Rep. Tom Kean Jr. told the House as he returned from an absence that had stretched from March into late June. The New Jersey Republican said Tuesday that doctors diagnosed him with depression after he entered the hospital for testing, ending months of public silence around a medical leave that had become a political question in Washington and at home. His return matters beyond one lawmaker’s health: Kean represents a competitive New Jersey district, and his missed votes came while House Republicans were trying to govern with little margin for error.

The Bottom Line

• Kean said he was diagnosed with depression after entering the hospital for testing due to health concerns.
• He last voted in the House on March 5 and missed more than 140 votes, according to CBS News and the BBC.
• The New Jersey Republican said doctors advised him to remain hospitalized because it was the fastest route to recovery.
• Kean is running for another term after an uncontested June 2 primary and is set to face Democrat Rebecca Bennett in November.
• House Speaker Mike Johnson said he had encouraged Kean to be more transparent, while Democrats argued constituents deserved a fuller explanation sooner.

Breaking It Down

Kean’s months-long absence began after his last House vote on March 5. His office initially described the situation as a personal medical issue, and later said he was under a doctor’s care, but the limited explanation left fellow lawmakers, constituents and political operatives trying to understand why a sitting member of Congress had disappeared from public view during a high-pressure voting stretch.

On the House floor Tuesday, Kean said he first entered the hospital because of health concerns and did not expect a long stay. The diagnosis changed that. Doctors recommended that he remain in the hospital to address depression, and Kean said he initially hesitated because he did not think he had time for it.

Depression is so much more than that. It is physical, it is emotional, and until you experience it yourself, it is difficult to fully understand how powerful this illness can be.

The absence created two overlapping stories. One was personal: a lawmaker describing a serious mental health diagnosis and a treatment path that took longer than expected. The other was institutional: a House seat effectively inactive for months while Republicans were managing a narrow majority and trying to pass legislation with limited room for defections or absences.

The political questions did not disappear with Kean’s return. CBS News reported that his social media accounts continued posting in the first person during his absence, and congressional disclosure documents about stock trades carried electronic signatures dated March 18, April 13 and May 22. The Daily Beast also reported criticism that he continued receiving his congressional salary and executed stock trades while away. Kean left the Capitol quickly after his speech without answering reporters’ questions, according to AP.

Why This Matters

Kean’s disclosure puts mental health in a familiar but difficult public-office frame: how much privacy should an elected official have when an illness keeps them away from work for months? His case is not the first time a member of Congress has sought treatment for depression. AP and The Guardian both referenced Sen. John Fetterman, who checked himself into Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for clinical depression in 2023 and whose office announced the hospitalization the next day.

That contrast is why the transparency issue became central. Kean described himself as a private person, but public office comes with votes, representation and accountability. Rep. Ritchie Torres, a New York Democrat who has spoken openly about living with depression, expressed sympathy while arguing that an extended absence still creates a public duty to explain what happened.

At the same time, public office carries a duty of transparency. When a public official is absent for an extended period, the public has a right to an honest explanation.

For Americans outside New Jersey, the story touches two everyday realities: depression can require real medical leave, and many workers do not have the flexibility or financial cushion that members of Congress do. Mother Jones reported criticism from New Jersey advocates who pointed to Kean’s past votes against paid sick leave measures in the state Senate, including the Earned Sick Leave Act, which mandates five paid sick days per year for New Jersey workers. That policy history sharpened the debate over whether the same system that protected Kean during treatment is available to ordinary constituents.

What Comes Next

Kean’s office has said he is still running for reelection. After winning an uncontested Republican primary on June 2, he is set to face Democratic nominee Rebecca Bennett, a former Navy helicopter pilot, in what AP described as New Jersey’s most high-profile contest in November.

House Speaker Mike Johnson said he believes Kean will be reelected and told reporters he had encouraged the congressman to be as transparent as possible. The next test is not only whether Kean resumes a full voting schedule, but whether voters in his swing district accept his explanation after months of uncertainty.