House Speaker Mike Johnson was scheduled to visit northern New Jersey Friday for a breakfast event benefiting Tom Kean Jr.

The CD-7 representative is in a tough reelection fight with Democrat Rebecca Bennett.

As is normally the case with Kean, secrecy seemed to rule.

Republican sources confirmed the event, but did not disclose the location.

The district ranges over at least parts of Hunterdon, Morris, Somerset, Sussex, Union and Warren counties.

Johnson, a Louisiana native, more than once defended Kean during the congressman's nearly four-month absence from Congress.

At varying times during that ordeal, Johnson said he had spoken to Kean and that he knew what was wrong with him. On June 30, Kean returned to the House and said he had suffered from depression.

Since returning, Kean has not had any public events or spoken at length to the media.

He is scheduled to attend a "Protect the Vote" rally at 6 p.m. Monday in Hunterdon County. That, according to a promotion for the event.

This rally certainly seems built on the recent revelation that about 6,600 non-citizens registered to vote in New Jersey at Motor Vehicle Commission offices.

Kean's reelection clearly is key to Republicans maintaining control of the House, which explains Johnson's attempt to raise interest and presumably campaign money.

The House Speaker has been in the district before.

Back in February,  2024, he joined Kean at a luncheon event at the Grain House restaurant in Basking Ridge.