Republican Congressman Tom Kean Jr.’s Re-engagement Amid Health Concerns

Representative Thomas Kean Jr. recently made contact with Republican officials in New Jersey after a lengthy absence from Congress. For nearly 12 weeks, Kean was away due to an undisclosed medical condition during a crucial time for his re-election campaign.

The buzz began when Kean’s familiar number appeared on phones of political leaders late last week, marking his re-engagement. Carlos Santos experienced this at 4:52 p.m. on a Thursday. Five minutes later, Joe LaBarbera’s phone also revealed a call from Kean while he was in his car.

I asked him if he needed anything, LaBarbera, the Republican chairman of Sussex County, recalled. Kean’s response was simple: Just your prayers.

The conversation revealed that Kean sounded healthy and was eager to return to the campaign trail. Santos, the Republican leader in Kean’s home county of Union, confirmed Kean’s upbeat tone during their two-minute call. Kean assured both men of his expected full recovery though he did not share details about his health condition that has kept him from Congress since mid-March.