U.S. Representative Andy Kim, 41, has emerged as the Democratic candidate for one of New Jersey’s U.S. Senate seats in the November 5 election. Kim secured a decisive victory in the primary held on June 4, obtaining 75% of the votes.
New Jersey is a stronghold for the Democratic Party, significantly increasing Kim’s chance of winning the Senate seat. Remarkably, New Jersey has not elected a Republican senator since the Nixon administration, a span of 52 years.
If he wins the election, Andy Kim will become the first Korean American to serve in the U.S. Senate. The Senate wields considerable influence over foreign policy, national defense, and key appointments, underscoring the high political stature of its members. While there have been senators of Japanese, Chinese, and Indian descent, a Korean-American senator has yet to be seen.
Andy Kim, an immigrant’s son and a symbol of the American Dream, had already made significant strides at a young age. Born in Boston to Korean immigrant parents and raised in southern New Jersey, he completed his early education in public schools before attending Deep Springs College in California, known for its innovative education. He then graduated from the University of Chicago.
Kim’s academic journey continued as a Rhodes Scholar at the University of Oxford, where he earned a Ph.D. in international relations. In September 2009, he joined the State Department as an expert on Iraq and later served as a strategic advisor to the commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan in Kabul in 2011.
From 2013 to February 2015, Kim served as an aide on Iraq affairs at the Department of Defense and the White House National Security Council, contributing to efforts against the Islamic State.
In November 2018, Kim ran as the Democratic candidate for New Jersey’s 3rd Congressional District, narrowly defeating the incumbent Republican Tom MacArthur. This victory made him the first Asian-American congressman from New Jersey. Despite representing a predominantly white district with only a small Asian population, Kim won re-election twice, securing his third term by 2022.
Kim’s reputation for dedication was cemented on January 6, 2021, when he was photographed quietly cleaning up trash in the Capitol after supporters of former President Donald Trump stormed the building. This act of humility earned him national recognition as a diligent public servant.
During the Democratic primary, political observers noted Kim’s strategic prowess. Traditionally, candidates would first seek the support of local party leaders, but Kim disrupted this norm by directly announcing his Senate run on social media the day after incumbent Senator Bob Menendez was indicted on bribery charges last September. This bold move, without consulting local Democratic leadership, was initially seen as political suicide. However, it ultimately bolstered Kim’s image as a reform-minded politician challenging the status quo.
Kim also took a stand against the controversial “county line” system in New Jersey’s voting ballots, which he argued was undemocratic and against the spirit of the Constitution. The system favored candidates supported by local political establishments by placing them in prominent positions on the ballot, relegating others to less visible spots. Kim filed a lawsuit against this practice, and in March, a federal court ruled in his favor, enhancing his standing as a political reformer.
His father is a distinguished geneticist who dedicated his career to cancer and Alzheimer’s research after studying at MIT and Harvard. His mother, a nurse, instilled in him the values of service by encouraging volunteer work at hospitals. Kim has stated that his political ambition is to restore the broken American Dream for future generations.
Kim still faces a significant hurdle in the November general election. The primary variable in his path to victory is the incumbent Senator Bob Menendez, who has declared his intention to run as an independent despite facing bribery charges.
Menendez is a Democratic political heavyweight who has served in the Senate for nearly two decades, since 2006. Menendez’s longstanding influence and substantial support base in the region could split the Democratic vote, potentially benefiting the Republican candidate.
Support from Korean communities in New Jersey and nationwide is crucial for Kim’s campaign. His election would mark a significant milestone in Korean immigration history, symbolizing progress and achievement in U.S. politics. <End>
