Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) publicly took aim at fellow Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (N.J.) on Wednesday, blasting his extended absence from Capitol Hill and the campaign trail as an embarrassment for the party.
“Where is he? No, seriously. It’s embarrassing,” Boebert told TMZ on the steps of the Capitol. She drew a pointed contrast with past GOP criticism of Democrats: “We’re supposed to be the party that is against campaigning from the basement.”
Kean has not cast a vote since March 5, according to the House clerk. In late April, the New Jersey Republican cited a “personal medical issue” but offered no specifics. On Tuesday, after advancing to the general election unopposed in his primary, Kean said he is “more energized than ever to keep fighting” for the state’s 7th Congressional District. He added that he plans to transition from virtual to in-person work “within a matter of weeks” and will then be “completely transparent” about his medical condition.
Boebert, however, was not satisfied. She said she has not heard from Kean during his absence and would “recommend showing up and saying something” if she could speak to him. “I’m not saying that he’s dead, but I mean, come on,” she added. “I mean, absent… where is the representation? That is taxation without representation, is it not?”
Her comments come as Democrats see an opening in the competitive swing district, with Kean’s absence providing a ready target. Democratic nominee Rebecca Bennett, a former U.S. Navy helicopter pilot, also criticized the incumbent during an interview on CNN’s “The Lead,” saying the district deserves “a representative that’s going to be able to show up for us and be able to get things done.”
Bennett went further, condemning Kean’s support for President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the war in Iran, and the administration’s immigration enforcement agenda. She also noted that Kean “was nowhere to be found when Trump held up the funding for Gateway Tunnel,” a critical infrastructure project in the district. A court ruling earlier this year forced the administration to release the money.
The clash highlights internal GOP tensions and the broader political stakes in the district. Kean’s prolonged absence has given Democrats a clear line of attack, even as he promises transparency about his health. For now, Boebert’s blunt critique underscores the pressure on absent lawmakers to explain themselves—or face public rebuke from their own colleagues.
