Rebecca Bennett keeps eye on Tom Kean’s voting record as depression treatment report emerges: ‘Not shying away from…’
After Republican Reps., Democratic congressional candidate Rebecca Bennett is walking a political tightrope. Tom Keane Jr. revealed that he was hospitalized for depression after four months of public absence from Congress.
However, Bennett publicly wished Keane well. She continues to focus on his voting record and his support for President Donald Trump, rather than making his mental health a focus of her campaign.
Keane announced earlier this week that he had been undergoing hospital treatment for depression after months of speculation that he would withdraw from the public eye.
Also read: Who is Thomas Ryan Rousseau? Patriot Front founder appears in Washington, D.C. on July 4th
‘The Republican environment is hostile’
Bennett’s campaign has largely avoided criticizing Keene’s health. Instead, it argued that voters should judge the two-term congressman based on his legislative record and representation in New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District.
“Rebecca has been focused on Congressman Keene’s failing record and his failure to defend the district,” Bennett campaign adviser Dan Bryan told Politico. He said Bennett has been wishing Keene well. However, she also “did not shy away from continuing to tell the story of his failures in the region.”
Meanwhile, even after news of Kean’s hospitalization recently came to light, his campaign has maintained that the congressman has returned to work and intends to aggressively campaign for re-election.
“You can expect an active campaign. You can expect an active congressman. He’s totally back,” campaign consultant Harrison Neely told POLITICO. He also believes Bennett’s stance is inconsistent with the district.
The race is considered one of the most competitive House races ahead of the November midterm elections, Politico reported, calling it a “hostile environment for Republicans.”
Months-long absence becomes campaign issue
Even before the diagnosis was announced, Keene’s absence drew widespread attention from New Jersey’s political circles. Fellow Republicans reportedly described the silence as “radio silence.”
Before the reason for Keene’s absence became public, the Republican-led town had expressed frustration with a lack of communication from its representatives.
His chief of staff, Dan Scharfenberger, issued a statement in May: “Congressman Keene continues to deal with personal health issues and we appreciate the outpouring of support. He will return to his normal schedule soon.”
Former Democratic Rep. Tom Malinowski, whom Kean defeated in 2022, said Kean has long had limited contact with reporters and constituents outside of scheduled public events. “He doesn’t interact with people in a free, easy, unstructured way,” he said.
Debate over a proposed immigration detention facility in Roxbury, New Jersey, has also intensified in Keane’s absence. Local officials opposed the plan, raising concerns about its environmental impact and pressure on local infrastructure.
Kean responded by introducing legislation to support communities hosting detention centers and asking federal officials to reconsider the proposal. However, critics say he did not directly oppose the facility.
Bennett visited Roxbury several times this year and spoke at town council meetings about the proposed detention center, Politico reported. The program was later abandoned after the Department of Homeland Security changed detention tactics.
