Swing-seat Republican sidelined by 'serious' illness misses 88 votes as majority hangs by thread

An absent House lawmaker is expected to miss several more weeks of work after vanishing from Capitol Hill and the campaign trail due to an undisclosed illness.

Rep. Tom Kean Jr., R-N.J., has not voted in more than two months as House Republicans' slim majority races to approve must-pass legislation ahead of the midterm elections.

His father, former Gov. Tom Kean Sr., R-N.J., says his son may not return to Washington until June or later as he recovers from a "serious" illness.

"When he can start to go to Congress again, that's something the doctor wants to reserve judgment on," he added.

Representatives for the New Jersey Republican have contended for weeks that he will restart his congressional duties "soon," but that timeline has remained vague. 

A spokesperson for Kean Jr. did not immediately respond to a request for comment about when the two-term lawmaker plans to return to Washington.

Kean Sr. did not elaborate about where his son is receiving treatment for the undisclosed diagnosis, but confirmed he is under the care of multiple doctors.

Since March, Kean Jr.'s office has characterized the congressman's diagnosis as a "personal health matter" and declined to share specifics.

The public last heard from Kean Jr. in late April when he released a public statement, saying, "I will be back to the job I love very soon."

Kean Sr. also said that he expects his son to run for re-election despite his disappearance from the campaign trail.

"I think that's the way he's going, yeah," he told the outlet.

Kean Jr. is running unopposed for the GOP nomination.

Republicans in Washington have grown increasingly concerned about Kean Jr.'s prolonged absence, which has an outsize impact on GOP lawmakers' fragile majority.

Johnson told reporters last week that he is praying for Kean Jr's swift recovery but is in the dark about the nature of the New Jersey Republican's ailment.

"He said he was out on a medical issue, and he'll be back as soon as possible," the speaker said. "That's the full extent of what I know about it. It's a personal thing, and obviously I told him that we're praying for him, and I need him to get back as soon as he can."