Tom Kean Jr. Defends Medical Absence in Tense New Jersey House Debate

In the only televised debate of a fiercely contested reelection campaign, Republican Representative Tom Kean Jr. defended his recent monthslong absence from Congress, attributing the pause in his public duties to a medical emergency involving a diagnosis of depression. Facing off in Rahway, New Jersey against Democratic challenger Rebecca Bennett, a former Navy helicopter pilot, Kean maintained that his office remained transparent with constituents and media while he sought treatment between March and late June. Bennett pushed back on the timeline, arguing that elected officials owe a higher standard of immediate transparency to the public they serve.The debate highlighted key areas where Kean seeks to distance himself from the Trump administration while retaining party support. For the first time, Kean explicitly voiced opposition to a proposed federal ICE detention facility in Roxbury, New Jersey—a project favored by White House officials but widely opposed by local leaders. He also underscored his support for the regional Gateway transit project and tax relief measures while standing by federal economic policies and foreign policy stances regarding the Middle East. Bennett, who currently holds a slight polling edge in what nonpartisan analysts consider a leaning Democratic seat, pushed Kean on his voting record and alignment with national Republican leadership. As the race enters its final stretch, both candidates are making final appeals to independent and suburban voters in New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District.