Thomas Kean Jr.

For his father, see Thomas Kean. For other persons with similar names, see Tom Kean (disambiguation).

Thomas Howard Kean Jr. (/ˈkeɪn/ KAYN;^[1] born September 5, 1968)^[2] is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative from New Jersey's 7th congressional district since 2023. He represented New Jersey's 21st legislative district in the New Jersey Senate from 2003 to 2022, serving as minority leader from 2008 to 2022.

Tom Kean
Official portrait, 2022
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey's 7th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2023
Preceded by	Tom Malinowski
Minority Leader of the New Jersey Senate
In office January 8, 2008 – January 11, 2022
Preceded by	Leonard Lance
Succeeded by	Steve Oroho
Member of the New Jersey Senate from the 21st district
In office March 1, 2003 – January 11, 2022
Preceded by	Rich Bagger
Succeeded by	Jon Bramnick
Member of the New Jersey General Assembly
In office April 19, 2001 – March 1, 2003
Preceded by	Alan Augustine
Succeeded by	Jon Bramnick
Constituency	22nd district (2001–2002) 21st district (2002–2003)
Personal details
Born	(1968-09-05) September 5, 1968 (age 56)
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Rhonda Kean
Children	2
Parents	Thomas Kean (father) Deborah Kean (mother)
Relatives	Robert Kean (grandfather) Leslie Kean (cousin)
Education	Dartmouth College (BA) Tufts University (MA)
Website	House website

From 2001 to 2003, Kean was a member of the New Jersey General Assembly. In 2003, he was elected a New Jersey state senator representing the same district, and in January 2008 he became minority leader of the New Jersey Senate, serving in the position until his term ended in January 2022.^[3]After Governor Chris Christie was reelected in 2013, Christie tried and failed to remove him as minority leader.^[4] He was frequently mentioned as a potential Republican candidate for governor in the 2017 New Jersey gubernatorial election, but did not seek the nomination.^[5]

Kean was the Republican nominee for New Jersey's 7th congressional district in 2020, narrowly losing the general election to incumbent Democrat Tom Malinowski. He defeated Malinowski in a 2022 rematch.

Early life and education

Kean was born in Livingston, New Jersey.^[2] His parents are Deborah (née Bye)^[6] and Thomas Kean. His father served as governor of New Jersey from 1982 to 1990.^[7] His grandfather Robert Kean was a former congressman from New Jersey.

Kean grew up on the family's estate in Livingston.^[7] He has two siblings. He graduated from the Pingry School.^[2]

Kean is also a graduate of Dartmouth College, where he was a member of the Psi Upsilon fraternity,^[8] and holds a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from Fletcher School at Tufts University.^[9]

Kean was an aide to former Congressman Bob Franks and a special assistant at the United States Environmental Protection Agency in the George H. W. Bush administration.^[2]

New Jersey Assembly

Kean was appointed to the General Assembly, the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature, in April 2001, to serve out the unexpired term of Alan Augustine, who had resigned on March 21, 2001, for health reasons. He was elected to a full term in the Assembly in November 2001.^[10] In the Assembly, he chaired the Republican Policy Committee and served as vice chair of the State Government Committee.^{[citation needed]}

New Jersey Senate

Tenure

In March 2003, Kean was appointed to the New Jersey Senate to serve out the unexpired term of Rich Bagger, and won election to that Senate seat in November 2003. In 2004, he was elected Senate Minority Whip, a position he held until 2007. He served in the Senate on the Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee.^[9]

Kean was one of six Republicans in the state senate to vote for a 2019 appropriations bill that passed 31 to 6.^[11]

Committees

• Commerce
• Higher Education
• Legislative Oversight
• Legislative Services Commission

2006 U.S. Senate campaign

Main article: 2006 United States Senate election in New Jersey

Kean was the Republican nominee for the United States Senate seat vacated by former U.S. senator and former governor of New Jersey Jon Corzine, a seat now filled by Corzine's designated replacement, Bob Menendez. Kean won the June 6, 2006, primary against John P. Ginty by a 3–1 margin.^[12] He lost the general election to Menendez, 53.3% to 44.3%. The race was the narrowest victory for an incumbent Democrat in the U.S. in an election that saw Democrats retake control of the Senate as part of a nationwide backlash against the Bush administration.^[13] He was endorsed by The Courier-Post, The Press of Atlantic City, and Asbury Park Press.

U.S House of Representatives

Elections

2000

Main article: 2000 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey § District 7

Kean sought the Republican nomination for New Jersey's 7th congressional district, but lost the primary to Mike Ferguson by about 4,000 votes, finishing second in a field of four candidates.^[14]

2020

Main article: 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey § District 7

On April 16, 2019, Kean announced that he was running for New Jersey's 7th congressional district in 2020, challenging first-term Democratic incumbent Tom Malinowski.^[15] In the first quarter of 2019, Kean nearly matched Malinowski's fundraising total of over $500,000.^[16] In August 2019, Kean was endorsed by House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy.^[17] Kean won the Republican primary over token opposition, and narrowly lost to Malinowski in the general election. It was the closest House race in New Jersey and one of the closest in the country; due to the close margin and slow counting of mail-in and provisional ballots, the outcome remained in doubt until nearly two weeks after the election.^[18]

2022

Main article: 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey § District 7

Kean announced in February 2021 that he would not seek reelection to the State Senate and immediately became the subject of speculation that he was preparing to run for New Jersey's 7th congressional district again.^[19] Malinowski was under scrutiny after his failure to disclose more than 100 stock trades became a national news story and led to a complaint filed with the House Ethics Committee.^[20][21] In redistricting, the 7th district was made more Republican while the neighboring 11th and 5th districts became more solidly Democratic. Kean formally announced his campaign on July 14, 2021, joined by U.S. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy.^[22][23] He won the Republican primary in June 2022^[24] and the general election with 51.4% (159,392 votes) to Malinowski's 48.6% (150,701 votes).^[25]

2024

Main article: 2024 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey § District 7

Kean is running for reelection in 2024 against Democratic nominee Sue Altman, a former leader of the New Jersey's Working Families Party.^[26]

Tenure

Kean is a member of the Republican Main Street Partnership, and joined the Problem Solvers Caucus. Kean said he joined the caucus to assure constituents that he remains committed to "working across the aisle". He is a moderate Republican, though detractors have said he could have done more to distance himself from the politics of President Trump.^[27][28]

Critics have called Kean out for holding "Telephone Town Halls", especially Sue Altman, his opponent in the 2024 election. Others counter that Kean's lesser media presence is a strength. Fred Snowflack of Insider New Jersey reported "Dating back to last fall's campaign, most of those griping about Kean's incommunicado ways were the media and voters who probably were not going to support him anyway."^[29]

During his 2022 election campaign, Kean, who self-describes as pro-choice, promised voters that he would support abortion rights.^[30][31] After the Dobbs decision, he said "this decision is now best to happen on the state level."^[32] During his tenure, he voted against the Women's Health Protection Act which would have codified the abortion rights that the Supreme Court overturned.^[30] He voted for the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which would penalize healthcare practitioners who fail to provide care for an infant that is born-alive from an abortion attempt.^[30] Kean has expressed support for IVF and introduced legislation to provide income tax credits to people undergoing fertility treatments.^[31]

In 2024, Kean, one of 17 House Republicans representing a district that voted for Joe Biden, endorsed Donald Trump.^[33][32]

Committee assignments

For the 118th Congress:^[34]

• Committee on Foreign Affairs
  • Subcommittee on Africa
  • Subcommittee on Europe (Chair)
• Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
• Committee on Science, Space, and Technology

Caucus memberships

• Problem Solvers Caucus^[27]

Personal life

Kean is an Episcopalian.^[35] He resides in Westfield, New Jersey with his wife, Rhonda Lee Norton,^[36] and their two children.^[37]

Electoral history

United States House of Representatives

2022 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey: District 7^[25]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Tom Kean Jr.	159,392	51.4%
	Democratic	Tom Malinowski (incumbent)	150,701	48.6%
	Republican gain from Democratic

2020 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey: District 7^[38]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Tom Malinowski (incumbent)	219,688	50.6
	Republican	Tom Kean Jr.	214,359	49.4
	Democratic hold

New Jersey Senate

New Jersey State Senate elections, 2017^[39]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Thomas Kean Jr. (Incumbent)	37,579	54.7
	Democratic	Jill Lazare	31,123	45.3
	Republican hold

New Jersey State Senate elections, 2013^[40]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Thomas Kean Jr. (Incumbent)	42,423	69.6
	Democratic	Michael Komondy	18,517	30.4
	Republican hold

New Jersey State Senate elections, 2011^[41]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Thomas Kean Jr. (Incumbent)	27,750	67.5
	Democratic	Paul Swanicke	13,351	32.5
	Republican hold

New Jersey State Senate elections, 2007^[42]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Thomas Kean Jr. (Incumbent)	29,795	59.7
	Democratic	Gina Genovese	20,092	40.3
	Republican hold

New Jersey general election, 2003^[43]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Thomas Kean Jr. (Incumbent)	32,058	67.4	8.8
	Democratic	Francis D. McIntyre	14,470	30.4	11.0
	Green	Teresa Migliore-DiMatteo	1,055	2.2	N/A
Total votes			47,583	100.0

New Jersey Assembly

New Jersey general election, 2001^[44]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Thomas Kean Jr.	44,223	31.8
	Republican	Eric Munoz	39,457	28.4
	Democratic	Tom Jardim	28,499	20.5
	Democratic	J. Brooke Hern	26,896	19.3
Total votes			139,075	100.0

United States Senate

United States Senate election in New Jersey, 2006^[45]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Bob Menendez (inc.)	1,200,843	53.3%	+3.1%
	Republican	Thomas Kean Jr.	997,775	44.3%	−2.8%
	Libertarian	Len Flynn	14,637	0.7%	+0.4%
	Marijuana	Edward Forchion	11,593	0.5%
	Independent	J.M. Carter	7,918	0.4	+0.2
	Independent	N. Leonard Smith	6,243	0.3%
	Independent	Daryl Brooks	5,138	0.2%
	Socialist Workers	Angela Lariscy	3,433	0.2%	+0.1%
	Socialist	Gregory Pason	2,490	0.1%	+0.0%
Majority			203,068	9.0%
Turnout			2,250,070
	Democratic hold		Swing	3.26%

References

1. Felzenberg, Alvin S. (2006). Governor Tom Kean. Rutgers University Press. p. 5. ISBN 978-0-8135-3799-3. From the time James Kean arrived in South Carolina, the Keans took pains to retain the proper pronunciation of their name, which rhymes with rain rather than with green.
2. "KEAN, Thomas 1968 –". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
3. Wildstein, David. "County chairs back Bramnick, Assembly incumbents for re-election", New jersey Globe, November 15, 2022. Accessed January 6, 2023. "Bramnick, a former minority leader of the New Jersey State Assembly, won a State Senate seat in 2021 after Tom Kean, Jr., now a congressman-elect, declined to seek re-election in order to focus on his challenge to Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-Ringoes)."
4. Isherwood, Darryl (November 8, 2013). "Democrats continue to savage Kean". NJ.com. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
5. Lizza, Ryan (April 14, 2014). "Crossing Christie". New Yorker. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
6. "Weddings; Dorian Drees, Reed Kean". The New York Times. December 10, 2000. Retrieved September 5, 2019. Dorian Drees, a daughter of Susan Drees Sugarman of Palm City, Fla., and the late John M. Drees, was married yesterday to Reed Stuyvesant Kean, a son of Thomas H. Kean, the former governor of New Jersey, and Deborah Bye Kean of Far Hills, N.J.
7. Chen, David W. "A Kean on the Ballot? What Else Is New?", The New York Times, September 16, 2006. Accessed February 24, 2011. "As he grew up at the family homestead in Livingston, the younger Mr. Kean said he was most impressed with the reception that his father received in the community."
8. Chen, David W. (October 23, 2006). "Out to Show He's Not Just an Old Jersey Name (Published 2006)". The New York Times – via NYTimes.com.
9. Senator Thomas H. Kean Jr. legislative web page, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed April 17, 2008.
10. Bowman, Bill. "Ex-governor's son swims upstream"^{[permanent dead link]}, Asbury Park Press, September 27, 2003. Accessed April 17, 2008. "Kean, who was appointed to the Assembly in March 2001 upon the resignation of the late Alan Augustine, won re-election in 2001. He was appointed to his 21st District Senate seat earlier this year after the resignation of Richard H. Bagger."
11. "Senate passes budget 31-6". New Jersey Globe. June 20, 2019. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
12. Unofficial List - Candidates for US Senate - For June 2006 Primary Election Archived 2006-09-22 at the Wayback Machine, dated June 7, 2006
13. "CNN.com - Elections 2006". www.cnn.com. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
14. "2000 Primary Election Results -- U.S. House of Representatives" (PDF). New Jersey Division of Elections. Retrieved December 24, 2013.
15. NJ.com, Brent Johnson | NJ Advance Media for; NJ.com, Jonathan D. Salant | NJ Advance Media for (April 16, 2019). "Big-name N.J. Republican Tom Kean Jr. challenges rookie Democrat for seat in Congress". nj.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
16. "Kean raises 500k for House bid". New Jersey Globe. July 8, 2019. Retrieved July 8, 2019.
17. "House Minority Leader endorses Kean". New Jersey Globe. August 7, 2019. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
18. "Malinowski defeats Kean in close race". New Jersey Globe. November 18, 2020.
19. David Wildstein (February 1, 2021). "Kean Won't Seek Re-Election To State Senate Seat, Possibly Setting Up Rematch With Malinowski". New Jersey Globe.
20. David Wildstein (July 1, 2021). "Kean will run for Congress in 2022 in rematch against Malinowski". New Jersey Globe.
21. Kerry Picket (July 5, 2021). "Tom Kean Jr. hopes the fourth time's a charm in bid for New Jersey House seat". Yahoo News.
22. Johnathan D. Salant (July 11, 2021). "Tom Kean Jr. to kick off N.J. campaign for Congress with help from top House Republican". nj.
23. Stephanie Murray (July 12, 2021). "It's Republican-vs.-Republican in Texas". Politico.
24. Shepherd, Brittany (June 11, 2022). "Democrats on the ropes from redistricting could determine balance of power in Congress". ABC News. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
25. "New Jersey Seventh Congressional District Election Results". The New York Times. November 8, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
26. Fox, Joey. "Altman raises whopping $2.1 million in three months for campaign against Kean". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
27. "Kean joins Problem Solvers Caucus". March 8, 2023.
28. "Kean Follows Gottheimer's Lead". March 8, 2023.
29. "'Where is Junior?' Protesters Descend on Kean Country". Insider NJ. April 18, 2023. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
30. "Running in a moderate NJ district, progressive activist tosses the political playbook". Gothamist. April 30, 2024.
31. "Democrats test a battleground theory: IVF fears can win against a 'pro-choice' Republican". Politico. 2024.
32. Sobko, Katie. "NJ 7th District: We met with Tom Kean Jr. and Sue Altman. Here's what they said". North Jersey Media Group. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
33. Fox, Joey (May 30, 2024). "Tom Kean Jr. will support Trump for president". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
34. "Full Committee".
35. "Religious affiliation of members of 116th Congress" (PDF). PEW Research Center. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
36. "WEDDINGS; Rhonda Norton, Thomas Kean Jr". The New York Times. November 13, 1994. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
37. Chen, David W. "For Menendez and Kean, a Fierce First Debate", The New York Times, June 26, 2006. Accessed March 7, 2008. "Then, a few minutes later, the most dramatic exchange occurred when Mr. Kean sought to contrast his own background and record in Westfield, a wealthy suburb, with Mr. Menendez's in Hudson County."
38. "New Jersey Election Results: Seventh Congressional District". The New York Times. November 3, 2020. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
39. "Official List Candidates for State Senate For General Election 11/07/2017 Election" (PDF). Secretary of State of New Jersey. November 29, 2017. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
40. "Official List Candidates for State Senate For General Election 11/05/2015 Election" (PDF). Secretary of State of New Jersey. December 4, 2013. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
41. Official List Candidate Returns for State Senate For November 2011 General Election, New Jersey Department of State, December 14, 2011. Accessed June 22, 2012.
42. Official List Candidate Returns for State Senate For November 2007 General Election, New Jersey Department of State, December 3, 2007. Accessed June 22, 2012.
43. "Official List, Candidate Returns for State Senate for November 2003 General Election" (PDF). Secretary of State of New Jersey. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 5, 2016. Retrieved January 24, 2016.
44. "2001-general-elect-gen-assembly-tallies.pdf" (PDF). New Jersey Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 5, 2017. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
45. Official List: Candidates for US Senate For November 2006 General Election Archived 2007-11-26 at the Wayback Machine, New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety, Division of Elections, dated December 4, 2006. Accessed September 26, 2007.

External links

• Congressman Thomas Kean Jr. official U.S. House website
• Kean Jr. for Congress campaign website
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
• Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress
• Profile at Vote Smart
• Senator Thomas H. Kean Jr. legislative web page, New Jersey Legislature
• New Jersey Legislature financial disclosure forms
  • 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004
• "The New Jersey X Factor", Mother Jones magazine, October 30, 2006.
• Appearances on C-SPAN

New Jersey General Assembly
Preceded by Alan Augustine	Member of the New Jersey General Assembly from the 22nd district 2001–2002 Served alongside: Rich Bagger	Succeeded by Jerry Green
Preceded by Joel Weingarten	Member of the New Jersey General Assembly from the 21st district 2002–2003 Served alongside: Eric Munoz	Succeeded by Jon Bramnick
New Jersey Senate
Preceded by Rich Bagger	Member of the New Jersey Senate from the 21st district 2003–2022	Succeeded by Jon Bramnick
Vacant Title last held by Edward T. O'Connor Jr.	Minority Whip of the New Jersey Senate 2004–2008	Succeeded by Kevin J. O'Toole
Preceded by Leonard Lance	Minority Leader of the New Jersey Senate 2008–2022	Succeeded by Steve Oroho
Party political offices
Preceded by Bob Franks	Republican nominee for U.S. senator from New Jersey (Class 1) 2006	Succeeded by Joe Kyrillos
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Tom Malinowski	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey's 7th congressional district 2023–present	Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by Sydney Kamlager-Dove	United States representatives by seniority 388th	Succeeded by Jen Kiggans