By Akemi Tamanaha | AsAm News
Andy Kim made history early on election night Nov. 5, as the first Korean American to be elected to the U.S. Senate.
Kim handily defeated his opponent, Republican Curtis Bashaw to claim an open Senate seat in New Jersey. With 85% of votes counted, Kim received 1,943,261 votes, 53%. Bashaw received 44.7% of the vote.
Kim accepted his victory at about 9 pm Eastern Time Nov. 5. He posted to X/Twitter: “We just won our Senate race! As a son of immigrants, a public school kid, I never could’ve imagined I’d get to serve as a US Senator.”
“I’m deeply humbled and grateful to NJ and for everyone who got us here. I promise I’ll serve with honor and integrity as a public servant for all,” wrote Kim.
The son of Korean immigrants, Kim was born and raised in South Jersey and is raising his family in his home state. He was sworn into Congress as a U.S. representative in January 2019.
Over the course of his young political career, Kim has become a leading figure not just for the AANHPI community but also for Americans in general. In January 2021, a photo of Kim cleaning the capitol after the insurrection went viral.
Kim announced his run for Senate in September 2023, while then-Senator Bob Menendez was still facing charges of corruption and bribery. Menendez stepped down in August after being convicted of those charges.
New Jersey Senator Cory Booker congratulated Kim in a statement released on X.
“I am so thrilled that tonight New Jersey has elected Andy Kim to serve alongside me in the Senate. Together we will continue to deliver for the people of this great state. Congratulations Andy!” Booker wrote.
Prior to his three-term service in Congress, Kim served at federal institutions including USAID, the Pentagon, the State Department, and the White House National Security Council.
He is a member of multiple House committees and caucuses, including the House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.
Additional reporting by Ethnic Media Services.
