Kean made a political comeback in 1959, challenging incumbent William Yeomans for Essex County Republican Chairman. Essex County Republicans were divided into two factions; Kean organized a slate of reform candidates opposed to Yeomans headed by Alfred C. Clapp, a popular former State Senator and Superior Court Judge. Yeomans backed Essex County Prosecutor Charles V. Webb, Jr. for the State Senate, but Clapp won the nomination by a massive 20,000 vote margin (72%-28%). All twelve Assembly candidates running on the Kean/Clapp line won the primary. Yeomans dropped his re-election bid, clearing the way for Kean to take over what was viewed as the most powerful Republican organization in the state. Among the political newcomers who ran on the Clapp ticket was C. Robert Sarcone.