First Korean-American US Senator Possible... NYT Says "Andy Kim Likely to Win"

Three-Term Former U.S. Representative from New Jersey
Photo of Cleanup After U.S. Capitol Attack Draws Attention

In November, Andy Kim, a Korean-American U.S. Representative (Democrat, New Jersey) challenging to become the first Korean-American U.S. Senator, is projected to be the most likely candidate to win among his competitors.

The New York Times (NYT) reported on the 27th (local time) that "Andy Kim has become the most likely candidate to succeed U.S. Senator Robert Menendez," adding, "His campaign strategy is to not seek permission from anyone." The New Jersey Democratic Party traditionally required candidates to first report their candidacy to party leadership and gain their support, but Kim secured his victory by breaking this entrenched practice.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The New Jersey Democratic Party also operated a "county line system" during the primary process, where candidates supported by local party leaders were grouped together in the most visible positions on the ballot. Kim filed a lawsuit arguing that this county line ballot system was undemocratic and violated constitutional principles, and a federal court accepted this, ordering a ban on the use of such ballots. The media evaluated Kim as solidifying his political position as a reformer opposing such unfair entrenched privileges.

Kim is a Korean-American politician from New Jersey who has been elected to the U.S. House of Representatives three times as a Democrat. If he wins the Democratic primary in June and the Senate election in November, he will become the first Korean-American to enter the U.S. Senate. Kim declared his candidacy last September after Senator Menendez of New Jersey was indicted on bribery charges.

Last month, the situation became even more favorable when Kim’s only Democratic primary opponent, Tammy Murphy, withdrew from the race. Although Senator Menendez has not yet decided to withdraw his candidacy, NYT reported that Kim is currently the most likely candidate to win. New Jersey is known as a state where the Democratic Party has never lost a Senate seat to the Republican Party since 1972.

Kim gained nationwide attention in 2021 when a photo was published showing him quietly picking up trash alone after supporters of former President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol. Chris Russell, a Republican campaign strategist who faced Kim twice in House elections, described him as "like Clark Kent (the protagonist of the movie Superman)," saying, "He appears kind but is a very sharp and calculating politician with animal instincts."

Meanwhile, at a fundraising event held on the 21st at the Korean American Voter Coalition (KAGC) office in Fort Lee, New Jersey, Kim expressed his aspirations, saying, "If elected senator, I will demonstrate the next-generation leadership that this country desperately needs," and "I want to serve as a dedicated public official regardless of race or ethnicity."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.