Thomas Kean — Republican Candidate for U.S. House in New Jersey, 2026

Thomas Kean Jr. advocates for a comprehensive approach to immigration reform, emphasizing border security as national security and enforcing the rule of law. He supports starting deportations with individuals who have committed crimes and believes the situation would have been resolved if the "Remain in Mexico" policy had continued. He also calls for compassionate approaches to protect children brought to the country illegally.

“America is a land of immigrants. Many of us have family who generations ago came here seeking the opportunity for a better life. But our current immigration system is broken. We are a nation of laws and a top priority needs to be the safety and security of America’s citizens. Border security is national security, and our approach to combating illegal immigration must be comprehensive and include permanently securing our border, enforcing the rule of law, and ensuring law enforcement has the resources they need to carry out their duties. We also need commonsense approaches to protect children who have been brought to our country illegally through no fault of their own. To achieve these goals, we must develop and debate immigration policy within Congress to ensure we give these issues the compassion and thoughtfulness they deserve. - Tom Kean Jr., http://kean.house.gov/issues/immigration”

Thomas Kean Jr. voted to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies in January 2026 and co-introduced bipartisan legislation to prevent a lapse in enhanced premium tax credits, stating his commitment to a responsible solution. He has also advocated for federal funding for substance abuse, mental health treatment, and sepsis initiatives. However, he has faced criticism from healthcare advocates for previous votes that they claim would cut Medicaid and healthcare funding.

““Over the past several months, I co-introduced multiple legislative pathways aimed at forging a responsible, bipartisan solution to prevent a lapse in the enhanced premium tax credits,” Kean said. “I remain committed to working with leadership and colleagues on both sides of the aisle, to extend the ACA premium tax credits as soon as possible.” (Joey Fox, New Jersey Globe, January 08 2026)”

Thomas Kean supports energy policies that prioritize American-made energy, reduce reliance on foreign oil, and conserve natural resources, advocating for an "all-the-above" approach to ensure affordable, reliable, and diverse energy. In the New Jersey state legislature, he sponsored funding for offshore wind energy and was a prime sponsor of the Global Warming Response Act in 2007. As a U.S. Congressman, he voted in support of the Protecting America’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve from China Act (H.R. 22) and the Homeowner Energy Freedom Act (H.R. 4758).

“I am committed to supporting energy policies that increase American-made energy, reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil, reduce costs for New Jersey residents, and conserve our natural resources. (Thomas Kean, kean.house.gov/issues/energy-and-environment)”

Thomas Kean voted against a New Jersey state Senate bill that codified the right to reproductive choice, including abortion. In Congress, he voted for the Born-Alive Survivors Protection Act, which provides penalties for failing to provide care for a child born alive after an abortion. He also voted to elect Mike Johnson as Speaker of the House, who has a record of opposing reproductive health care. Kean has stated that sending the question of abortion to the states is appropriate.

“During the debate, Kean said it is “appropriate” to send the question of abortion to the states. (Thomas Kean, njspotlightnews.org)”

Thomas Kean voted in favor of the FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act, citing his support for a pay raise for servicemembers and the Picatinny Arsenal mission. He also supported the Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024. Conversely, Kean opposed the Israel Security Assistance Support Act. He did not vote on the PROTECT Taiwan Act.

Research pending more substantial sources.

Thomas Kean voted against H.J.Res.44, a measure seeking to block a federal rule that regulates stabilizing braces on pistols. This vote placed him among a few Republicans who did not support blocking the regulation, indicating a moderate position on gun policy that sometimes diverges from his party's typical stance, despite a record of also voting against some gun control measures.