Kean was close to announcing his candidacy for the United States Senate in 1954. By early 1954, New Jersey Republican leaders had decided to withdraw party support for the incumbent Senator, Robert C. Hendrickson. Two Republicans, former U.S. Rep. Clifford Case and former New Jersey State Treasurer Walter Margetts had already announced their candidacies. Kean wanted tor run and had secured commitments of endorsements from several key GOP leaders, but he refused to announce his own campaign until Hendrickson declared his intentions publicly. Hendrickson waited until the day before the filing deadline to say he was retiring. That was too late for Kean, who filed as a candidate for re-election to the House.