Thomas Howard Kean Jr. was born September 5, 1968, in Livingston, New Jersey. He graduated from the Pingry School and earned a bachelor of arts degree in history from Dartmouth College. Kean holds a master of arts in law and diplomacy from the Fletcher School at Tufts University.

Kean served as a special assistant at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency during the George H.W. Bush administration and worked as an aide to U.S. Representative Bob Franks. He served as a volunteer firefighter and emergency medical technician and held the position of vice president of a fire department.

In 2001, Kean was appointed to the New Jersey General Assembly. In 2003, he was elected to the New Jersey State Senate representing the 21st legislative district. He served as minority leader of the New Jersey Senate from 2008 to 2022. In 2006, he was the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate but lost to incumbent Bob Menendez.

In 2020, Kean was the Republican nominee for New Jersey's 7th congressional district, losing narrowly to incumbent Democrat Tom Malinowski. He defeated Malinowski in a rematch in 2022. The district encompasses all of Warren and Hunterdon counties and portions of Morris, Somerset, Sussex and Union counties. He was re-elected in November 2024, defeating Democrat Sue Altman.

Political Career

• Special Assistant, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (George H.W. Bush administration)
• Aide to U.S. Representative Bob Franks
• New Jersey General Assembly (2001 - 2003)
• New Jersey State Senate, 21st district (2003 - 2022)
• Minority Leader, New Jersey Senate (2008 - 2022)
• Republican nominee for U.S. Senate (2006, unsuccessful)
• Republican nominee for NJ-07 (2020, unsuccessful)
• U.S. Representative, NJ-07 (2023-present)

Key Policy Areas

• Science, space and technology policy (NASA programs, satellite capabilities)
• Foreign affairs (Europe, Africa subcommittees)
• Transportation and infrastructure (aviation, highways, railroads)
• Environmental protection (coastal resiliency, Earth science)
• Bipartisan governance (Problem Solvers Caucus member)

Notable Actions / Initiatives

• Primary sponsor of the ASCEND Act (H.R. 6219), legislation to permanently authorize NASA's Commercial SmallSat Data Acquisition program for Earth science research (passed House 2024)
• Primary sponsor of the HEARTS Act (H.R. 7401), addressing cardiovascular health
• Primary sponsor of the HAVEN Act (H.R. 8790), regarding veterans' benefits
• Served as New Jersey Senate Minority Leader for 14 years (2008 - 2022), navigating divided government in Trenton

Education

• Pingry School
• B.A., History, Dartmouth College
• M.A., Law and Diplomacy, Fletcher School, Tufts University

Personal

• Birth date: September 5, 1968
• Residence: New Jersey 
• Family: Son of former New Jersey Governor Thomas Kean Sr. (1982 - 1990); grandson of former U.S. Representative Robert Kean