Summary
Current Position: US Senator
Affiliation: Republican
Candidate: 2023 US Representative for District 7
Thomas Howard Kean Jr. ( born September 5, 1968) is an American Republican politician. From 2001 until 2003, he was a New Jersey General Assemblyman, and represented the 21st Legislative District, which includes parts of Union, Morris, Somerset, and Essex counties. In 2003, he was elected a New Jersey state senator representing the same district, and in January 2008 became Minority Leader of the New Jersey Senate, and has served in the position until retiring from the Senate in 2022.
After Governor Chris Christie was reelected in 2013, Christie attempted to remove Kean as Minority Leader, but ultimately failed. Kean was frequently mentioned as a potential Republican candidate for governor in the 2017 New Jersey gubernatorial election, but did not seek the nomination. He was the Republican nominee for New Jersey’s 7th congressional district in 2020, narrowly losing to incumbent Democrat Tom Malinowski in the general election. Kean is the Republican nominee for the 7th district again in 2022, where he will have a general election rematch with Malinowski.
OnAir Post: Thomas Kean Jr.
About
Source: Campaign page
om’s allegiance to public service has been inspired by the proud heritage of the Kean family. The grandson of former U.S. Representative Robert Kean and son of former Governor Thomas H. Kean, Sr., Tom is continuing a legacy of dedicated public service to New Jersey. From a young age, Tom understood and recognized the importance of civic engagement. As a student and young adult, he volunteered at a camp for diabetic children and also taught Sunday school at his church.
While studying history at Dartmouth College, Tom was motivated to broaden his understanding of the world and the international political economy. Dartmouth’s Exchange Program granted the opportunity to transform classroom learning into practical experience. In 1988, Tom traveled to Budapest, Hungary, and the Soviet Union for four months. Through his expedition of Eastern Europe, he received an extraordinary firsthand perspective of the repercussions of government operating insufficiently by attempting to command and dictate the economy. Months after returning to the United States, the Berlin Wall was torn down.
Tom embarked on his career in public service after graduating from university, when he received an appointment from President George H.W. Bush to work in the Environmental Protection Agency, where he met his wife, Rhonda. Following the Bush administration, he had the opportunity to serve in Congressman Bob Franks’ office in Washington, DC. His core responsibility was to advise the congressman on commerce, energy resources, environmental and foreign affairs issues. In addition to his professional duties in Washington, DC, he was a vice president of a fire department where he volunteered as a firefighter and an emergency medical technician.
Following his time in America’s capital, he attended the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. There, he received a master’s degree in law and diplomacy, and was also employed as a graduate school instructor. Tom completed his doctoral studies ABD at Fletcher.
Tom, determined to answer the call to public service again, believed he, personally, could turn ideas into action and make a lasting difference on people’s lives. In 2001, Tom was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly, where he quickly developed a reputation as a leader in ethics reform. Two years later, Tom was named to the upper house of the state legislature.
Tom was nominated and selected for the inaugural class of the Rodel Fellowship program by The Aspen Institute, where he finished a fellowship program for young public officials focused on ethics and responsibilities of public leadership. In 2002, Tom was named one of only 40 state leaders from the entire nation to be recognized as a Toll Fellow by the Council of State Governments for high achievement and service to state government.
Then in 2008, his peers unanimously elected him Senate Republican Leader. Shortly thereafter, he unveiled his caucus’ job creation package, “Common-Sense Plan for a More Affordable New Jersey,” which ultimately reversed the course that previous administrations were quickly leading the state down. The package brings New Jersey back to the basics and is based on the following four pillars:
Spending that reflects your priorities;
Better ways to govern;
Long-term strategies for an affordable state;
Growing our way to a better future
Tom currently serves on the Senate Higher Education, Senate Commerce and Legislative Oversight committees. He is also the Senate appointee to the New Jersey Council on the Arts, the New Jersey Israel Commission and the New Jersey Amistad Commission.
Additionally, Tom is an Honorary Member of the Board of Trustees of the Paper Mill Playhouse and the New Jersey Festival Orchestra.
Tom, Rhonda and their two daughters reside in Westfield.
Web
Campaign Site, Twitter, YouTube, Government Page
Politics
Source: none
Wikipedia
Thomas Howard Kean Jr. (/ˈkeɪn/ KAYN;[1] born September 5, 1968) 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.
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.[2] After Governor Chris Christie was reelected in 2013, Christie tried and failed to remove him as minority leader.[3] He was frequently mentioned as a potential Republican candidate for governor in the 2017 New Jersey gubernatorial election, but did not seek the nomination.[4]
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. Kean was re-elected in 2024, defeating former New Jersey Working Families Party director Sue Altman.
Early life and education
Kean was born in Livingston, New Jersey, on September 5, 1968.[5] 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. Through his father, he is also a descendant of William Livingston, the state's first governor.[8]
Kean grew up on the family's estate in Livingston.[7] He has two siblings. He graduated from the Pingry School.[5]
Kean is also a graduate of Dartmouth College, where he was a member of the Psi Upsilon fraternity,[9] and holds a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from Fletcher School at Tufts University.[10]
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.[5]
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.[11] 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.[10]
Kean was one of six Republicans in the state senate to vote for a 2019 appropriations bill that passed 31 to 6.[12]
Committees
- Commerce
- Higher Education
- Legislative Oversight
- Legislative Services Commission
2006 U.S. Senate campaign
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.[13] 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.[14] He was endorsed by The Courier-Post, The Press of Atlantic City, and Asbury Park Press.
U.S House of Representatives
Elections
2000
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.[15]
2020
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.[16] In the first quarter of 2019, Kean nearly matched Malinowski's fundraising total of over $500,000.[17] In August 2019, Kean was endorsed by House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy.[18] 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.[19]
2022
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.[20] 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.[21][22] 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.[23][24] He won the Republican primary in June 2022[25] and the general election with 51.4% (159,392 votes) to Malinowski's 48.6% (150,701 votes).[26]
2024
Kean is running for reelection in 2024 against Democratic nominee Sue Altman, a former leader of the New Jersey's Working Families Party.[27]
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.[28][29]
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."[30]
During his 2022 election campaign, Kean, who self-describes as pro-choice, promised voters that he would support abortion rights.[31][32] After the Dobbs decision, he said "this decision is now best to happen on the state level."[33] During his tenure, he voted against the Women's Health Protection Act which would have codified the abortion rights that the Supreme Court overturned.[31] 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.[31] Kean has expressed support for IVF and introduced legislation to provide income tax credits to people undergoing fertility treatments.[32]
In 2024, Kean, one of 17 House Republicans representing a district that voted for Joe Biden, endorsed Donald Trump.[34][33]
Committee assignments
For the 118th Congress:[35]
- Committee on Foreign Affairs
- Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
- Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
Caucus memberships
Personal life
Kean is an Episcopalian.[37] On November 12, 1994, he married Rhonda Lee Norton; they have two children and live in Westfield, New Jersey, as of 2006.[38][39]
Electoral history
United States House of Representatives
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Tom Kean Jr. | 159,392 | 51.4% | |||
| Democratic | Tom Malinowski (incumbent) | 150,701 | 48.6% | |||
| Republican gain from Democratic | ||||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Tom Malinowski (incumbent) | 219,688 | 50.6 | |
| Republican | Tom Kean Jr. | 214,359 | 49.4 | |
| Democratic hold | ||||
New Jersey Senate
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Thomas Kean Jr. (Incumbent) | 37,579 | 54.7 | |
| Democratic | Jill Lazare | 31,123 | 45.3 | |
| Republican hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Thomas Kean Jr. (Incumbent) | 42,423 | 69.6 | |
| Democratic | Michael Komondy | 18,517 | 30.4 | |
| Republican hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Thomas Kean Jr. (Incumbent) | 27,750 | 67.5 | |
| Democratic | Paul Swanicke | 13,351 | 32.5 | |
| Republican hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Thomas Kean Jr. (Incumbent) | 29,795 | 59.7 | |
| Democratic | Gina Genovese | 20,092 | 40.3 | |
| Republican hold | ||||
| 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
| 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
| 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
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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)."
- ^ Isherwood, Darryl (November 8, 2013). "Democrats continue to savage Kean". NJ.com. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
- ^ Lizza, Ryan (April 14, 2014). "Crossing Christie". New Yorker. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
- ^ a b c "KEAN, Thomas 1968 –". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
- ^ "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.
- ^ a b 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."
- ^ "Thomas H. Kean Archive - Biography". governors.rutgers.edu. Archived from the original on June 6, 2010. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b Senator Thomas H. Kean Jr. legislative web page, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed April 17, 2008.
- ^ 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."
- ^ "Senate passes budget 31-6". New Jersey Globe. June 20, 2019. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
- ^ Unofficial List - Candidates for US Senate - For June 2006 Primary Election Archived September 22, 2006, at the Wayback Machine, dated June 7, 2006
- ^ "CNN.com - Elections 2006". www.cnn.com. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
- ^ "2000 Primary Election Results -- U.S. House of Representatives" (PDF). New Jersey Division of Elections. Retrieved December 24, 2013.
- ^ 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) - ^ "Kean raises 500k for House bid". New Jersey Globe. July 8, 2019. Retrieved July 8, 2019.
- ^ "House Minority Leader endorses Kean". New Jersey Globe. August 7, 2019. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
- ^ "Malinowski defeats Kean in close race". New Jersey Globe. November 18, 2020.
- ^ David Wildstein (February 1, 2021). "Kean Won't Seek Re-Election To State Senate Seat, Possibly Setting Up Rematch With Malinowski". New Jersey Globe.
- ^ David Wildstein (July 1, 2021). "Kean will run for Congress in 2022 in rematch against Malinowski". New Jersey Globe.
- ^ Kerry Picket (July 5, 2021). "Tom Kean Jr. hopes the fourth time's a charm in bid for New Jersey House seat". Yahoo News.
- ^ Johnathan D. Salant (July 11, 2021). "Tom Kean Jr. to kick off N.J. campaign for Congress with help from top House Republican". nj.
- ^ Stephanie Murray (July 12, 2021). "It's Republican-vs.-Republican in Texas". Politico.
- ^ Shepherd, Brittany (June 11, 2022). "Democrats on the ropes from redistricting could determine balance of power in Congress". ABC News. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
- ^ a b "New Jersey Seventh Congressional District Election Results". The New York Times. November 8, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
- ^ Fox, Joey. "Altman raises whopping $2.1 million in three months for campaign against Kean". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
- ^ a b "Kean joins Problem Solvers Caucus". March 8, 2023.
- ^ "Kean Follows Gottheimer's Lead". March 8, 2023.
- ^ "'Where is Junior?' Protesters Descend on Kean Country". Insider NJ. April 18, 2023. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Running in a moderate NJ district, progressive activist tosses the political playbook". Gothamist. April 30, 2024.
- ^ a b "Democrats test a battleground theory: IVF fears can win against a 'pro-choice' Republican". Politico. 2024.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ Fox, Joey (May 30, 2024). "Tom Kean Jr. will support Trump for president". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
- ^ "Full Committee".
- ^ "About Climate Solutions Caucus". Climate Solutions Caucus. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
- ^ "Religious affiliation of members of 116th Congress" (PDF). PEW Research Center. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
- ^ "WEDDINGS; Rhonda Norton, Thomas Kean Jr". The New York Times. November 13, 1994. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
- ^ 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."
- ^ "New Jersey Election Results: Seventh Congressional District". The New York Times. November 3, 2020. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Official List Candidate Returns for State Senate For November 2011 General Election, New Jersey Department of State, December 14, 2011. Accessed June 22, 2012.
- ^ Official List Candidate Returns for State Senate For November 2007 General Election, New Jersey Department of State, December 3, 2007. Accessed June 22, 2012.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Official List: Candidates for US Senate For November 2006 General Election Archived November 26, 2007, 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
- "The New Jersey X Factor", Mother Jones magazine, October 30, 2006.
- Appearances on C-SPAN
