# How come there are no fun speculations about why Tom Kean Jr. has vanished? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [June 3, 2026, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-there-are-no-fun-speculations-about-why-tom-kean-jr-has-vanished/1030589 "2026-06-03T14:08:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2026, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-there-are-no-fun-speculations-about-why-tom-kean-jr-has-vanished/1030589/1 "2026-06-03T14:08:20Z")
I think he has fallen victim to a shrink ray accident, and cannot look over a podium any more. Or maybe it’s an alien abduction. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2026, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-there-are-no-fun-speculations-about-why-tom-kean-jr-has-vanished/1030589/2 "2026-06-03T14:10:14Z")
Hiking the Appalachian Trail. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2026, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-there-are-no-fun-speculations-about-why-tom-kean-jr-has-vanished/1030589/3 "2026-06-03T14:25:31Z")
I added Jr to the title. My spec: He remembered what a good Governor his Dad was and is on a secret training mission to lead a team to take back the Republican party. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2026, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-there-are-no-fun-speculations-about-why-tom-kean-jr-has-vanished/1030589/4 "2026-06-03T14:27:32Z")
Can we get some context of who Tom Kean (Jr) is and why we should care where he’s at? ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2026, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-there-are-no-fun-speculations-about-why-tom-kean-jr-has-vanished/1030589/5 "2026-06-03T14:31:09Z")
> **[New Jersey voters look for answers about Tom Kean Jr.'s prolonged absence...](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/new-jersey-voters-look-for-answers-about-tom-kean-jr-s-prolonged-absence-from-congress)** > > The pressure is ratcheting up in the 7th Congressional District as Democrats are hoping to unseat Kean in their bid to regain control of Congress. Maybe the transgender surgery didn’t go as expected? ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2026, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-there-are-no-fun-speculations-about-why-tom-kean-jr-has-vanished/1030589/6 "2026-06-03T14:31:57Z")
Yeah, I have no idea either. But google is still my friend. I found out who he is. I found out he “mysteriously” disappeared. I found out I don’t care. But in the spirit of the OP, I will speculate. He was taken to a secure government installation where his life force, his very essence, is being harvested from his body and injected into trump. Any messages about “I am ready to return” are faked. [https://nightstalker.fandom.com/wiki/The\_Youth\_Killer](https://nightstalker.fandom.com/wiki/The_Youth_Killer) ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2026, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-there-are-no-fun-speculations-about-why-tom-kean-jr-has-vanished/1030589/7 "2026-06-03T14:55:26Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > who Tom Kean (Jr) is and why we should care where he’s at? Congressman from NJ and son of a well like Moderate Republican NJ Governor from the 1980s. Sadly Kean Jr. is a right wing Trump supporter. He represents NW New Jersey. (District 7) He might now lose this seat to his Democrat Challenger. This was unthinkable about 4 months ago. [Ironically, by today’s standards, Kean Jr is somewhat to the left for a Republican but further right than all but 2 Democrats](https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/thomas_kean/456917#sponsorship_analysis). * * * * * * As this is in #Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share, please keep politics to a minimal. I gave a fairly objective summary of who Tom Kean Jr. was, but direct replies will hijack the thread or get it moved to #Politics & Elections. If you think he is worthy of such discussion please start a new thread instead. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2026, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-there-are-no-fun-speculations-about-why-tom-kean-jr-has-vanished/1030589/8 "2026-06-03T15:03:54Z")
**[He and Missy is so very busy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Slgj96aXgQk)** Busy **[makin’ money](https://www.insidernj.com/kean-trades-stocks-dems-scramble-for-votes/)** ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2026, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-there-are-no-fun-speculations-about-why-tom-kean-jr-has-vanished/1030589/9 "2026-06-03T15:07:09Z")
Still healing up from plastic surgery to give him Mar-a-Lago Face. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2026, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-there-are-no-fun-speculations-about-why-tom-kean-jr-has-vanished/1030589/10 "2026-06-03T17:33:07Z")
Moderating: I know this is intended as a lighthearted thread, but I don’t think it’s going to stay that way. Accordingly, I’m moving it to P&E. Hopefully it can stay lighthearted, but if it continues to stray into regular politics, it will be in the right place. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2026, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-there-are-no-fun-speculations-about-why-tom-kean-jr-has-vanished/1030589/11 "2026-06-03T17:36:00Z")
Epstein Island? ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2026, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-there-are-no-fun-speculations-about-why-tom-kean-jr-has-vanished/1030589/12 "2026-06-03T17:36:25Z")
I guess his suit is now literally empty, rather than just figuratively empty. Fingers crossed that he resigns to spend more time with his family or whatever – truly useless. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2026, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-there-are-no-fun-speculations-about-why-tom-kean-jr-has-vanished/1030589/13 "2026-06-03T18:35:02Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > He represents NW New Jersey. (District 7) > He might now lose this seat to his Democrat Challenger. This was unthinkable about 4 months ago. Uphill battle but I don’t believe it was unthinkable. It wasn’t that long ago that he beat an incumbent democrat for the seat. The fact that he’s not disclosing why he’s missed over 200 votes while still collecting a paycheck isn’t going to help him. There is no way the real reason won’t come out eventually. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2026, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-there-are-no-fun-speculations-about-why-tom-kean-jr-has-vanished/1030589/14 "2026-06-03T18:44:51Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > There is no way the real reason won’t come out eventually. I can’t believe it hasn’t happened already! ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2026, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-there-are-no-fun-speculations-about-why-tom-kean-jr-has-vanished/1030589/15 "2026-06-03T18:48:11Z")
He’s been incapacitated following a stroke (suffered while he was in bed with his mistress), and his staff has been [desperately searching for a charming, enthusiastic lookalike to stand in for him](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_(film)). ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2026, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-there-are-no-fun-speculations-about-why-tom-kean-jr-has-vanished/1030589/16 "2026-06-03T18:51:45Z")
Maybe he has been getting blackmailed by a secret gay lover. Wouldn’t be new for a NJ politician. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2026, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-there-are-no-fun-speculations-about-why-tom-kean-jr-has-vanished/1030589/17 "2026-06-03T19:06:34Z")
I dunno maybe because no conspiracy theory could be as outrageous and evil as “being a GOP congressman in 2026”. Conspiring with reanimated nazis and lizard people in a secret base beneath the antarctic? Meh, not all that, compared to a Trump endorsement. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2026, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-there-are-no-fun-speculations-about-why-tom-kean-jr-has-vanished/1030589/18 "2026-06-03T19:17:34Z")
Trump endorsed the congressman and said that Kean is doing a great job. Honestly, given that a Republican member of the House missed that many votes, I have to agree. If only all of them were doing such a great job. > **[Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116677963449948858)** > > Congressman Tom Kean is a Great Representative for the People of New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District! A Tremendous Advocate of our America First Agenda, Tom is working tirelessly to Keep our Border SECURE, Stop Migrant Crime, Grow our Economy,... ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2026, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-there-are-no-fun-speculations-about-why-tom-kean-jr-has-vanished/1030589/19 "2026-06-03T20:07:26Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > > [@Loach](#): > > > > There is no way the real reason won’t come out eventually. > > I can’t believe it hasn’t happened already! It’s kind of astonishing, really. If one were greivously desperate and would do anything (_anything_) to keep something like this from getting leaked, how even does one do it? The assembled media – from huge conglomerates down to your friendly neighborhood YouTuber – has seemed almost magical in their collective ability to rip the lid off of stuff like this. What’s different here? ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2026, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-there-are-no-fun-speculations-about-why-tom-kean-jr-has-vanished/1030589/20 "2026-06-03T20:11:44Z")
Is it possible that he’s become allergic to his human suit, and therefore must retain his original lizard skin and bask in a mud bath? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-there-are-no-fun-speculations-about-why-tom-kean-jr-has-vanished/1030589.md?page=2)