"Thankful for the Amazing Victory... Will Continue Reforms"
Gained Attention by Breaking Unfair Practices in New Jersey in the Past
Future Variables Include Incumbent Menendez Running as an Independent
Andy Kim, a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey, was reported by the Associated Press on the 4th (local time) to have been selected as the Democratic candidate in the New Jersey primary election. Kim is the first Korean American to challenge for a U.S. Senate seat.
According to the report, in the New Jersey primary held that day, Kim defeated his competitors, civic activist Lawrence Hamm and labor movement leader Patricia Campos-Medina, to secure the Democratic nomination. He will face Republican candidate Curtis Bashaw in the November U.S. Senate election for the New Jersey Senate seat.
After the polls closed, Kim expressed his gratitude on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), calling it an "amazing victory." He added, "We have forever changed New Jersey politics through a powerful grassroots movement that broke down unfair ballot practices," and stated, "We are now ready to continue our movement for change."
Kim is a three-term representative from New Jersey. He announced his Senate bid shortly after incumbent Senator Bob Menendez (Democrat, New Jersey) was indicted on bribery charges late last year. Tammy Murphy, a leading rival candidate, withdrew voluntarily during the primary, making Kim's nomination a foregone conclusion early on.
Kim has been praised by mainstream U.S. media for dismantling unreasonable vested interests and throwing a grenade into New Jersey's corrupt "political machine." A notable example is his constitutional lawsuit that led to the prohibition of the "county line system," which placed candidates supported by party leadership at the top of the primary ballot. In 2021, he gained sudden fame when a photo of him quietly picking up trash alone after the Capitol riot by fervent supporters of former President Donald Trump was published.
Some local media, including The New York Times (NYT), predict Kim's advantage in the general election as well. This is because New Jersey has not lost a Senate seat to the Republicans even once since 1972. However, an uncertainty remains as incumbent Menendez, facing legal risks, may run as an independent in the November general election, potentially siphoning off some Democratic votes.
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