Wilson, Kean Jr. Miss 43 and 68 House Votes Amid Weeks-Long Absences

4 articles · Updated · Forbes · May 14

Rep. Frederica Wilson has missed 43 consecutive House votes since April 17, while Rep. Thomas Kean Jr. has missed 68 since March 5 after weeks away from Washington.
Kean’s office says the New Jersey Republican is handling a personal health matter and expects a full recovery, but Wilson has offered no public explanation and neither her office nor House Democratic leaders responded to questions.
Both absences land in re-election year races: Kean’s New Jersey seat is viewed as a toss-up that could affect Republicans’ slim House majority, while Wilson faces an August primary challenge in her solidly Democratic Florida district.
Kean, 57, flipped his seat in 2022 and won by 6 points in 2024, but Democrats are targeting the district after Gov. Mikie Sherrill carried it in November; Wilson, 83, has held her seat since 2010.

Are voters left without a voice when their representative takes extended medical leave?

Does Congress need new rules for lawmaker absences to protect both privacy and public duty?