[US Midterm Elections] First Korean-American 3-Term Congressman in 26 Years... 4 Korean-American Incumbents Expected to Be Re-elected

Andy Kim Elected as U.S. Representative for New Jersey

Andy Kim, U.S. Congressman. [Image source=NYT]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] In the U.S. midterm elections held on the 8th (local time), Korean-American candidate Congressman Andy Kim secured a third term. Kim became the first Korean-American politician in 26 years to win a third term since former Congressman Chang-jun Kim, who was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1996.

Democrat Kim was confirmed elected in New Jersey's 3rd District election on the 9th, with 95% of the votes counted as of 2:45 a.m., securing 54.9% of the vote against Republican candidate Bob Hilly, who received 44.2%.

Second-generation Korean Kim is a Middle East security expert who served as an advisor on Iraq at the White House National Security Council (NSC). Raised in southern New Jersey, Kim graduated from the University of Chicago and earned a Ph.D. in International Relations from the University of Oxford in the UK. He joined the State Department in 2009 and served as a strategic advisor to the U.S. commander stationed in Kabul, Afghanistan, in 2011. Over the past two years, he has been active on the House Armed Services Committee and the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Since defeating incumbent Republican Tom MacArthur in November 2018 to enter Congress, Kim has won three consecutive elections including this one.

Upon confirmation of his victory, Kim held a celebration party with supporters and said, "Many people are tired of the collapse of our politics right now," adding, "I want to show them that there is another way."

Marilyn Strickland, U.S. Representative.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

In the same election, Korean-American Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland also won re-election. Running in Washington State's 10th District, she secured 57% of the vote, defeating Republican candidate Keith Swank, who received 43%.

Also known by her Korean name "Soon-ja," Strickland is the first Korean-American politician representing Washington State and is an African American female lawmaker. She was born in Seoul in 1962 to Korean mother Kim In-min and U.S. military father Willie Strickland, moving to the U.S. at the age of one. Strickland entered politics after working at Northern Life Insurance and Starbucks, and being elected as a city council member in Tacoma.

Other Korean-American politicians who entered Congress together include Republican Representatives Young Kim and Michelle Steel, both currently leading in midterm vote counts.

Young Kim is leading with 53.9% of the vote against Democrat Asif Mahmood in California's 40th District election, with 40% of votes counted. Michelle Steel, running in California's 45th District, is ahead with 54.8% of the vote against Democrat Jay Chen, with 49% of votes counted.