U.S. Rep. Andy Kim (representing New Jersey’s 3rd District), who is vying for a U.S. Senate seat, has established a significant early lead.
According to New Jersey Democratic primary voters, Kim garnered 45% of the vote in an intra-party poll conducted by the outside election firm Breakthrough Campaign from December 7-14, with 1,004 primary voters participating. This figure more than doubles that of Kim’s rival, Tammy Murphy, who received 22%.
Incumbent Bob Menendez, still in the race despite facing corruption allegations, received just 6% of the vote. Menendez has been the subject of national criticism for allegedly acting in the interests of the Egyptian government.
Kim, one of the first to call for Menendez’s resignation following the public emergence of the corruption allegations in September, declared his intention to challenge Menendez for the senate seat.
Kim has previously shown strong performance in polls. In a recent survey in heavily Democratic Monmouth County, Kim’s votes were more than double Murphy’s (29 votes to 13).
Murphy, who entered the race on November 15, has garnered the support of senior Democrats, being the wife of incumbent governor Phil Murphy. Despite her popularity, she has struggled to articulate clear policies and direction, limiting her appeal to new voters.
“More than ever, New Jersey residents are looking for change,” Kim commented on his early lead, “and everywhere I go, I see voters driving long distances to make their voices heard.”
Politico reported on December 19 that Kim was recognized as “a national security official under President Obama with extensive experience, including working in war zones,” and that he “sponsored the strongest anti-corruption bill in a generation, and wrote new laws to stop insider trading and prevent politicians from profiting from their positions.”
The New Jersey primary for next year’s election is scheduled for June 4.
Should he be elected, Andy Kim, a two-term member of the House of Representatives, would become the first Korean-American senator in the 120-year history of Korean-American immigration.
BY BRIAN CHOI, JUNHAN PARK [ichoi@koreadaily.com]
