Former President Donald Trump threw his support behind Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-N.J.) on Monday, just hours before an uncontested GOP primary in the state's 7th Congressional District—a race where Kean faces no opposition despite being absent from Washington and the campaign trail for months.
On his Truth Social platform, Trump called Kean a “Great Representative” and a “Tremendous Advocate of our America First Agenda,” touting the congressman's stances on border security, tax cuts, energy independence, and gun rights. “GET OUT AND VOTE FOR TOM — HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!” the former president wrote in his endorsement.
Kean, 57, has not cast a vote in the House since March 5, according to the chamber's clerk. In late April, he disclosed he was dealing with a “personal medical issue” but declined to offer specifics. “My doctors continue to assure me that my recovery will be complete and that I will be back to the job I love very soon,” Kean said in a statement at the time.
He told the New Jersey Globe on May 21 that he expects to return to his duties “in the next couple of weeks” and that his prognosis is positive, with no expected long-term health effects. His father, former New Jersey Gov. Tom Kean Sr., confirmed to CNN in mid-May that his son is recovering from a serious but temporary illness.
Despite his prolonged absence, Kean's official and campaign accounts have remained active on social media. On Monday, he thanked Trump for the endorsement and urged voters to turn out. The general election in November is expected to be competitive; Kean won his 2022 race by 2.8 points and his 2024 race by 5.4 points. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates the seat as a “Toss Up,” one of 18 such races nationwide, with Republicans holding 14 of those seats as they try to protect a slim House majority.
Four Democrats are competing in Tuesday's primary to challenge Kean in the fall: Rebecca Bennett, Michael Roth, Tina Shah, and Brian Varela. The district, which covers parts of Somerset, Union, and Essex counties, has become a perennial battleground.
Trump's endorsement comes amid a broader push to consolidate GOP support ahead of the midterms, even as the party grapples with internal divisions and legal battles. Trump's revisionist account of January 6 has become party orthodoxy, and his backing remains a powerful force in primaries. Kean, who has largely aligned with Trump's agenda, now hopes the former president's seal of approval will help him weather the scrutiny over his prolonged absence.
The congressman's health situation has drawn some criticism from local Democrats, who question his transparency. But with no primary challenger, Kean is all but certain to advance to the general election, where national attention will focus on whether Democrats can flip the seat in a closely divided House.
