New Jersey GOP Rep Kean loses reelection, after long, unexplained absence from Congress

A Republican who disappeared for months has lost his seat to a Democrat challenger in a purple district that has switched party control multiple times over the past decade.

Published: November 3, 2026 10:20pm

Updated: November 3, 2026 10:33pm

New Jersey GOP Thomas Kean Jr. lost his reelection bid Tuesday night in the state's 7th congressional district to Democrat Rebecca Bennett.

Kean was seeking his third term in a district that has switched parties in each of the last two midterm elections, according to the Associated Press, which called the race for Bennett at 9:48 p.m. ET. Kean was elected during the 2022 midterms, taking the seat from Democrat Tom Malinowski, who won the seat during the 2018 midterms.

With 77% of the vote counted, Bennett leads Kean by 20.9 percentage points.

Kean’s re-election bid was hurt in part by his unexplained absence earlier this year, during which he missed more than 100 votes due to what was described as a health issue. When Kean finally re-emerged, he said he had been hospitalized due to depression.

The Facts Inside Our Reporter's Notebook

Unlock unlimited access

  • No Ads Within Stories
  • No Autoplay Videos
  • VIP access to exclusive Just the News newsmaker events hosted by John Solomon and his team.
  • Support the investigative reporting and honest news presentation you've come to enjoy from Just the News.