A Republican congressman who was missing for 116 days with a mystery health condition has revealed that he has been diagnosed with depression.

Tom Kean Jr, 57, was accompanied by his wife in the Capitol as he addressed the House on Tuesday, telling colleagues: ‘Several months ago, due to health concerns, I entered the hospital for some testing. I did not believe that this would result in a long-term stay, I was given the diagnosis of depression.’

He said that depression ‘is physical, it is emotional and until you’ve experience it yourself it is difficult to fully understand how powerful this illness can be.’ 

The Republican said that it was ‘not an easy speech to give’, adding that he was grateful for the kindness and prayers shown to his family over the last four months.

Before heading to the floor of the House of Representatives, Kean was spotted kissing his wife, with whom he shares two children.

The Donald Trump-backed candidate represents one of the most vulnerable GOP seats in Congress, NJ’s 7th district, which the President won by a single point in 2024.

Kean has previously hinted at being sidelined by a medical issue and missed more than 140 votes as Republicans are under pressure to advance their legislative agenda with a razor-thin majority.

His campaign issued a statement on June 2, writing: ‘Right now I am focused on my recovery and under the advice of healthcare professionals, I will transition from virtual work to in person work within a matter of weeks. At that time I will be completely transparent as to the nature of my medical condition.’

U.S. Rep. Tom Kean (R-NJ), who is returning from an unexplained months-long absence, arrives for an expected floor speech at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 3

Kean (R-NJ), who is returning from an unexplained months-long absence, arrives for an expected floor speech at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 30

Kean revealed his diagnosis of depression in a speech on the House floor given on Tuesday 

House Speaker Mike Johnson previously dismissed rampant speculation about Kean’s absence, telling reporters ‘it’s not a scandalous thing at all.’

‘I do know what his health issue is but he’s asked me not to disclose that and I’m going to honor that,’ Johnson told reporters on June 3. ‘What he’s dealing with is not very common and not a big thing.’ 

‘When he explains it, it will all make sense,’ he added. 

Kean is not the first Capitol Hill lawmaker to go public with his mental health struggles.

Pennsylvania Democrat Senator John Fetterman spent six weeks away from Washington, DC in 2023 in the midst of his own battle with clinical depression. 

New York Democrat Richie Torres has also been open about his bouts with depression, hospitalizations, and suicidal ideations in the past. He told TIME in 2023 that ‘elected officials should see telling their own stories about mental health as a form of public service.’  

Words of encouragement poured in for Kean as he shared his diagnosis on Tuesday.

New Jersey Democrat Bonnie Watson Coleman noted on X, that ‘millions of Americans struggle with depression every year,’ adding that she was ‘glad to hear Rep. Kean is getting the support he needs.’

Coleman additionally noted that Kean is a co-sponsor on youth mental health legislation that the two of them are backing. 

Florida Republican Anna Paulina Luna shared on X that she was ‘praying’ for her colleague.

New Jersey Democrat Bonnie Watson Coleman on X

Florida Republican Anna Paulina Luna on X

Hours before Kean’s primary contest earlier this month, President issued an endorsement encouraging his supporters to back the incumbent.

In his endorsement for Kean, Trump said ‘he will never let you down.’

Yet, with his cryptic absence, the argument that Kean has let his constituents down will likely be made forcefully by Democrats in the march to November.

‘His months-long absence has put a spotlight on his self-inflicted vulnerabilities including playing the stock market while in office, putting loyalty to Donald Trump first, and failing to show up when the people of New Jersey need him most,’ the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee noted in a prior press release.

A GOP operative who spoke about the race with the Washington Post noted, ‘We cannot hold the majority without this seat. And folks need to know if he is capable of running for reelection and winning. … You can’t just go missing for months and tell people they just need to be patient and wait without any accountability.’

Rebecca Bennett, who is running against Kean in November, is exciting Democrats because she’s seen as a prototype of Governor Mikie Sherrill, a moderate-facing female with a military background who can appeal to suburban voters with an independent streak.

Rebecca Bennett, Democrat candidate for New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District, speaks at a campaign event on Saturday, May 30, 2026, in Flemington, New Jersey

Senior GOP staffers and lawmakers who spoke with Punchbowl News last month said they had received little to no information about Kean’s condition or whereabouts.

Kean, in a post made to his congressional campaign’s social media page in late April, said that he was dealing with an unspecified ‘personal medical issue’ that he expects to recover from. 

‘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 the statement. ‘I expect to return to a full schedule and be at 100 percent.

Kean’s campaign account continued to post content during his absence, though none appeared to be photographs taken in real time.

The campaign’s fundraising solicitation emails have emphasized how ‘razor-thin the margin’ is for GOP control in the US House.

Kean won his 2024 race by nearly 7 percentage points but Kalshi markets have handed Bennett an 80 percent chance of flipping the seat.