Thomas Kean

Thomas Kean Jr. is a Republican politician representing New Jersey's 7th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, having been first elected in 2022. Born into a legacy of public service, he is the son of former New Jersey Governor Thomas Kean Sr. and the grandson of former U.S. Representative Robert Kean. He received his bachelor's degree in history from Dartmouth College and later earned a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School at Tufts University. His early career included work at the Environmental Protection Agency under the George H.W. Bush administration and service as a legislative staffer in Washington, D.C. Kean served in the New Jersey state legislature for over two decades, starting in the General Assembly in 2001 before moving to the State Senate in 2003. He held the position of Senate Minority Leader from 2008 to 2022, where he focused on property tax relief and economic development. In Congress, he serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee. His legislative work highlights infrastructure investment, support for a strong national defense, and advocacy for New Jersey's economic interests. Outside of his political career, he has served his community as a volunteer firefighter and emergency medical technician.

Thomas Kean Jr. emphasizes economic policies aimed at lowering costs for families, most notably advocating for the restoration of the full State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction to provide tax relief to New Jersey residents. On immigration, he characterizes border security as a matter of national security, supporting comprehensive measures to secure the border, enforce the rule of law, and provide resources to law enforcement. His healthcare platform focuses on improving access to care and achieving mental health parity; while he has supported Republican-led budget measures affecting federal health spending, he has stated support for reproductive choice at the state level. Regarding foreign policy and defense, Kean advocates for a robust military to protect U.S. interests abroad and supports active engagement in international affairs through his role on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. He also promotes significant investment in 21st-century infrastructure to address transit, roadway congestion, and connectivity challenges in his district.