‘I didn’t know it was that long’: Fellow Republican shocked to find lawmaker has vanished

A Republican lawmaker has gone missing amid a critical reelection campaign in a New Jersey swing district as his fellow GOP colleagues have questioned what’s happened to him, according to reports on Thursday. Rep. Tom Kean Jr.’s team has cited health issues for why he’s been missing in action and hasn’t voted since March 5 — missing almost 50 roll call votes — but Republican lawmakers have been unable to locate him, Politico reported. No further details on his health status have been released. Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) said he tried to find Kean on the House floor on Tuesday and hadn’t realized he was missing before. “I was looking for him,” Bacon told Politico. “I didn’t know it was that long.”Two New Jersey Republicans, Reps. Chris Smith and Jeff Van Drew, told the outlet they texted and called him — but no response. Van Drew said it’s been “radio silence.” Kean is up for reelection in the competitive 7th District, which includes Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster. “He faces an environment that is increasingly challenging for Republicans and the Trump administration is opening an immigration detention facility in his district while pulling funding for a major infrastructure project for New Jersey commuters — both of which have put him in a precarious position,” Politico reported.His team has said he plans to return to Capitol Hill. It’s unclear when that will be. “I know the congressman and his family appreciate all of the well wishes and support,” Harrison Neely, a Kean consultant, told Politico. “Please know that he will be back on a regular full schedule very soon.”

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