New Jersey’s Third Congressional District Representative, Andy Kim, 42, is going to be headed back to Washington, but this time with a new title and a new office—and his constituency just grew by about 8.2 million residents.
The Associated Press called the contest for Kim here.
As of 8:45 p.m., the unofficial margin of Kim’s victory over Republican Curtis Bashaw was 55.9-42%. 1.7 million to 877,649.
Meet the newly minted US Senator-elect Andy Kim.
Kim set up his headquarters in Cherry Hill on Election Night to await the results, having cast his vote in Moorestown in the morning with his family.
Kim defeated his Republican challenger, Cape May businessman Bashaw, a 63-year-old moderate-styled entrepreneur from the hospitality sector. The path to Kim’s ascendancy from the US House of Representatives to the US Senate followed the political implosion of US Senator Robert Menendez, formerly New Jersey’s senior senator, following his second corruption trial. Menendez had been under enormous pressure to step down from his own re-election campaign, while his legal woes were consuming all the political capital he had, in a desperate, obnoxious bid to retain power. Kim was the first to declare his candidacy to displace Menendez, with Patricia Campos-Medina, Larry Hamm, and First Lady Tammy Murphy throwing themselves into the Democratic Primary. Murphy, who never held political office in her own right, was initially seen as the Democratic Party machine favorite, lined up powerful county and civic endorsements.
Critics attacked her candidacy as First Lady, saying that her position and the power of her husband represented an unfair and ethically dubious campaign advantage. Her inability to cultivate a grassroots base of support, characterized by her opponents as the beneficiary of naked nepotism, dogged her well-funded campaign. Kim, however, had bucked the party apparatus, offending some in positions of power while framing himself as something of an outsider—even though he has been an elected official since 2018. The Kim Campaign made its mark on New Jersey political history by championing the court challenge to disestablish “the line”—advantageous ballot positioning awarded by county party endorsements. This was a phenomenon unique to New Jersey, and the courts struck it down, ordering an unbiased ballot to be designed for the Democratic primary election. Murphy withdrew her candidacy before the primary, leaving Kim as the nominee, defeating Campos-Medina and Hamm.
In the meantime, as Menendez’s world crumbled around him, polling in the dirt, he eventually relented, gave up his re-election bid, and resigned. Governor Phil Murphy appointed George Helmy as an interim senator until such time as Kim will be sworn in.
History was going to be made, whether the victor was Kim or Bashaw, reflecting the diversity of the Garden State and growing acceptance from the voter base. Bashaw is an openly gay, pro-choice Republican—a surprising set of qualities in the age of Donald Trump’s MAGA movement—who has sought to establish himself as his own brand, autonomous from the wider MAGA flavor led by the former president. It follows a general trend by the New Jersey Republican Party to put forward more moderate candidates such as Jack Ciattarelli and Jon Bramnick who can appeal to the approximately 2.2 million unaffiliated voters, a crucial bloc to win over if the Republicans seek to overturn the Democrats’ million-more registered voter advantage.
Kim, a Millennial, son of South Korean immigrants, Rhodes Scholar, Oxford graduate, and former national security advisor to President Barack Obama, will be the first Korean-American from the east coast to serve in the US senate.
32BJ SEIU New Jersey State Director Ana Maria Hill issued the following statement.
“Andy Kim over the course of three terms in Congress showed he’s a champion for democracy and working families. After rioters ransacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, it was Kim who sticked around after the chaos to clean up their mess. The son of immigrants, he knows the importance of supporting working families. This summer Kim shadowed our members at Newark Liberty International Airport as they fought for fair wages. He’s supported bills that capped insulin prices, lowered costs of prescriptions for seniors, expanded Medicare coverage and expanded free meal programs in schools — legislation that is immediately felt by working families. He’ll continue championing workers in the U.S. Senate. We’re proud and excited to have supported a senator who will look out for essential workers like our members in Washington, D.C.”
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After a hard-fought race, Andy Kim has emerged as the winner of the U.S Senate seat in New Jersey, according to Insider NJ. Kim, a Democrat, defeated Republican incumbent Tom MacArthur in a closely watched race that drew national attention.
Kim, a former national security advisor under President Barack Obama, ran on a platform of healthcare reform, gun control, and environmental protection. He emphasized his experience working in Washington and his commitment to serving the people of New Jersey.
MacArthur, who was seeking a third term in the Senate, faced criticism for his support of President Trump’s policies and his role in trying to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Kim’s victory is seen as a rebuke of the Trump administration and a sign of growing Democratic momentum in the state.
Kim’s win is significant not only for New Jersey but also for the Democratic Party as a whole. His victory flips a Senate seat from Republican to Democrat, giving the Democrats a stronger foothold in Congress.
In his victory speech, Kim thanked his supporters and pledged to work tirelessly for the people of New Jersey. He promised to fight for affordable healthcare, gun safety measures, and environmental protections.
As the newest member of the U.S Senate, Andy Kim will have a crucial role in shaping national policy and representing the interests of his constituents. His win is a testament to the power of grassroots organizing and the importance of standing up for what you believe in.
