Menendez, Kean Head(ed) to Washington on Sunday for freshman orientation

New Jersey’s newest congressmen have much to do before January 3 swearing-in

November 12, 2022 | newjerseyglobe.com

Robert J. Menendez, a Democrat, and Thomas H. Kean, Jr., a Republican, were elected to Congress in Tuesday’s general election.

Menendez, 37, is the son of Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez. The 54-year-old Kean’s father is Thomas H. Kean, a former Assembly Speaker and the state’s governor from 1982 to 1990.

NJ SEED: The Garden State has two political dynasties – one Democratic and one Republican. Robert J. Menendez is of course the son of NJ’s senior US Senator, Bob Menendez. Tom Kean, Jr. has the longer political pedigree. Not only was his father Tom Kean Governor of NJ but his grandfather Robert Kean served in the House of Representatives from 1939 to 1959. Congressman-elect Kean‘s great-grandfather represented NJ for one term in the US Senate from 1928 to 1934. With those and more political ancestors it’s no surprise Tom Jr. sought a seat in Congress. NJ SEED extends best wishes for a successful term to both freshmen representatives.