The vulnerable House Republican also broke with Trump on an ICE facility in his district, but was steadfast in supporting the war in Iran.

RAHWAY, New Jersey — GOP Rep. Tom Kean Jr. defended his months-long absence from Congress in the only televised debate of his competitive reelection campaign, saying that he had been “very transparent” with voters about what he later revealed was a diagnosis of depression.

“Nobody can plan a medical emergency, and that was a medical emergency,” Kean said during the debate, which was hosted by a local news outlet, the New Jersey Globe. “We were very clear with our constituents, as well as the press, that we were seeking medical treatment, and when things got updated over time, we kept everybody updated.” Kean’s absence, which lasted from early March through June 30, became the subject of widespread media speculation and has been featured in Democratic attack ads in the 7th Congressional District. Rebecca Bennett, Kean’s Democratic opponent, told reporters after the debate that she “would have shared more” about her health if she had been in Kean’s position.

“I certainly would have been more transparent if I was the person in office, because I think our elected officials need to be more transparent with the people they serve,” said Bennett, a former Navy helicopter pilot and first-time candidate.

The debate offered a rare opportunity to question Kean, who is known for his mild mannered demeanor and limited press appearances, on where he agrees with President Donald Trump and where he differs.

The two-term Republican, who is endorsed by the president, said for the first time that he opposes the construction of a new immigration detention facility in his district, a project backed by the Trump administration. The facility, a former warehouse in Roxbury, New Jersey, has been opposed by both liberal activists and local GOP officials. “My focus is to make sure we don’t have an ICE facility in Roxbury,” Kean said.

Bennett, who has been outspoken against the facility, noted that it was Kean’s first time explicitly saying he opposed it. Kean had previously said only that he was collaborating with the Trump administration and Roxbury officials on finding a solution.

“This is the first time we have heard Congressman Tom Kean Jr. actually be explicit about his position on the detention facility in Roxbury,” Bennett said. “I have been clear about this for over a year.” Kean also noted his support for the Gateway project, which the Trump administration has repeatedly tried to kill; said he had gone “against my own president” on the State and Local Tax deduction, which was partially restored last year; and defended Trump-rechristened Lake America’s preexisting name. “I call it Lake Ontario,” Kean said.

But Kean defended the One Big Beautiful Bill — the signature Trump policy that Bennett argues gives the wealthy a tax break at the expense of Medicaid — as legislation that “jump-started the economy and focused on affordability.” Trump’s tariffs, Kean said, are being implemented “appropriately.” And with voters increasingly pessimistic about the Trump-initiated war in Iran, Kean pushed for staying the course, saying it’s “focused on getting real, positive results” and that he “assume[s] it will be over” in the coming months. He also positioned himself as an ardent defender of Israel, at one point saying that he would support sending American troops to defend it if necessary.

Bennett, too, faced her own difficult questions about where she’d break with members of her party and where she’d stand with them. During a lightning round, Bennett indicated that she considered former President Joe Biden’s immigration policies a failure and opposed a presidential bid by progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), but she declined to provide many details on which of her party’s specific policies and politicians she might oppose in Congress. “You have not heard my opponent once tonight differ from the average Democrat member of Congress, who always votes party line,” Kean said.

Bennett is increasingly viewed as the favorite to unseat Kean in November: the only recent public poll of the race put her ahead by five points, and the Cook Political Report, a top prognosticator, recently shifted the race into the “Leans Democratic” column.

Bennett is increasingly viewed as the favorite to unseat Kean in November: the only recent public poll of the race put her ahead by five points, and the Cook Political Report, a top prognosticator, recently shifted the race into the “Leans Democratic” column.

Kean has increasingly gone on the offense against Bennett, focusing on her work in the health care sector and her openness to putting conditions on aid to Israel. He also repeatedly referenced a comment Bennett made on the campaign trail about Trump supporters at her church, saying that it proved Bennett wouldn’t listen to those who disagreed with her — an assertion Bennett forcefully denied.

“I’ve been an active member of my church community, and I’ve been very open about that,” Bennett said. “I’m also a patriot, and I put my life on the line for this country — for anyone to imply that I am unable to work with people across the aisle is frankly insulting.”