Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-NJ) has missed over 37 roll-call votes in the U.S. House of Representatives since March, with his absence continuing into late April despite assurances from his chief of staff that he would return to a regular schedule.

The Republican’s prolonged absence carries significant weight for a chamber where every vote is critical. With Republicans holding only a narrow majority in a deeply divided legislature, Kean’s absence directly impacts their ability to maintain legislative momentum. Recent examples highlight this fragility: In January, New Jersey Republicans Jeff Van Drew and Chris Smith defied party leadership to sink a labor bill, while Texas Representative Wesley Hunt’s single vote against Venezuela military aid triggered a 215-215 deadlock.

Kean’s absence becomes even more consequential after Democrat Analilia Mejia won last week’s special election for a seat bordering his district and will be sworn in this week. The Republican majority would drop to 218 seats, but Kean’s indefinite non-voting status effectively reduces their count by one. His 7th District in suburban New Jersey remains highly competitive, with four Democrats actively challenging him ahead of November.

As the House navigates razor-thin margins—where two recent votes were decided by single votes—the congressman’s continued absence poses a growing risk to Republican leadership stability.