Today, U.S. Rep. Andy Kim (D-3) said he refused to back down in the face of “deeply unfair tactics during the Middlesex Convention.”
Prior to the vote taking place, delegates in the room motioned for a secret ballot, however, the Parliamentarian refused to follow up the request which resulted in a chant breaking out among the crowd demanding a fair vote, Kim recounted.
Nonetheless, the public ‘non-binding’ vote proceeded.
Voters, many of whom have jobs and positions in local, county, and state government, voted by raising their hands in front of all county leadership. This vote was non-binding and advisory only, as the Chairman made clear that he alone has the sole authority to determine which candidate gets the endorsement.
“To add insult to injury, the hand-raised votes were not even counted. All of this took place without transparency or accountability as this was the one and only democratic political convention in New Jersey this year that barred press from entering the room and covering the convention proceedings.”
Kim was livid.
“I find it deeply unrepresentative and unfair to have one single person be able to solely decide who is the endorsed candidate for U.S. Senate for a county with over 240,000 registered democrats,” said the congressman. “This election is about restoring trust and integrity, and having a broken system that allows a single person to have this much power to determine elected officials does nothing but further degrade trust in our democracy. The people of New Jersey deserve better, and the voters of Middlesex, not just one party elite, will decide who represents them in the U.S. Senate.”
First elected to Congress in 2018 at the age of 36, three-term Congressman Andy Kim is one of the younger members to serve in Congress and is the first Asian American elected to federal office from New Jersey. If elected to the Senate, Andy would be the 4th youngest Senator, the first senator from South Jersey in recent memory, and the first Asian American elected to the Senate from the entire east coast of America.
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Andy Kim, a Democratic congressman from New Jersey, recently spoke out against what he called a “deeply unfair” process in Middlesex County. According to a report by Insider NJ, Kim criticized the way in which candidates for local office are chosen in the county, saying that the current system is not transparent and does not give all candidates an equal opportunity to compete.
Kim’s comments come at a time when there is growing concern about the lack of diversity and representation in local government. In Middlesex County, where the population is diverse and rapidly growing, Kim argued that it is crucial for the selection process to be fair and inclusive.
One of the main issues that Kim raised was the lack of transparency in the candidate selection process. He pointed out that in many cases, candidates are chosen behind closed doors by party insiders, without any input from the community. This, he argued, leads to a lack of accountability and can result in candidates being selected based on factors other than their qualifications and experience.
Kim also criticized the lack of diversity among candidates in Middlesex County, noting that the current system often favors incumbents and those with connections to the political establishment. This, he argued, can make it difficult for new voices and perspectives to be heard in local government.
In response to these concerns, Kim called for reforms to the candidate selection process in Middlesex County. He suggested that there should be more transparency and accountability in how candidates are chosen, and that steps should be taken to ensure that all qualified individuals have an equal opportunity to run for office.
Overall, Kim’s comments highlight the importance of having a fair and inclusive candidate selection process in local government. By addressing issues of transparency, diversity, and accountability, it is possible to create a system that truly represents the interests and values of the community.
