New Jersey Representative Tom Kean Jr faced criticism during his first televised debate for his months-long absence from Congress, during which he received treatment for depression. The Republican, seeking reelection in the 7th Congressional District, defended his initial decision not to disclose his mental health struggles to constituents, arguing that medical emergencies cannot be planned. His Democratic challenger Rebecca Bennett highlighted the lack of transparency, whilst some within the Republican Party, including former state Attorney General John J Farmer Jr, felt he should have been more forthcoming with the public.

The debate revealed that Kean was absent for 116 days earlier this year, a prolonged absence that prompted questions within his own party despite House Speaker Mike Johnson's sympathetic stance that "people are entitled to get sick." The discussion shifted to policy disagreements, particularly Kean's opposition to a proposed ICE detention facility in Roxbury—a $129.3 million federal purchase of a vacant warehouse that faces ongoing legal challenges. Recent polling from September showed Bennett leading at 47 per cent to Kean's 42 per cent among likely voters in the district.