Andy Kim, a member of Congress who upended the political scene in New Jersey in his bid for the highest office, was appointed to the US Senate on Sunday.
Kim, 42, takes over following the resignation of Senator George Helmy, who had previously said he would step down when the results of the 2024 election are announced. He will fill the vacancy left by Bob Menendez this summer following his union capture.
“Today, I am appointing Senator Andy Kim to the United States Senate to begin his term before the new year begins,” New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said in a statement. “Taking this action will allow Senator Kim to begin a smooth transition into his new role so he can hit the ground running serving the people of New Jersey.”
Kim was elected last month over Republican Curtis Bashaw by just shy of 10-points — a narrow margin for the New Jersey Democrat compared to previous Senate races, but a four-point lead over Kamala Harris’s closer-than-expected six-point lead. about the president of the country Mr. Donald Trump.
“It is an honor to represent the country that has given my family a chance at the American Dream in the US Senate,” Kim said in a statement. “It is a dream that remains out of reach for many of our neighbors, and one that I will be ready on day one to fight for. I want to thank Governor Murphy and Senator Helmy for making sure New Jersey is well represented during this transition, and I look forward to serving the people. “
A resident of Moorestown who lives with his wife and two young children, Kim launched a campaign focused on ethics following the indictment of Senator Menendez, who resigned in August following his 16-count conviction in July.
New Jersey’s Democratic power brokers did not have Kim in mind to replace Menendez, who they had continued to support during the previous corruption trial, but whom they found unable to support politically following his indictment in September 2023 for selling gold bars and engaging in political activities. as an unregistered foreign agent.
But Kim – known for his gentleness and for his famous photo cleaning up the Capitol after the January 6 riots – avoided the support of conservatives when he announced his bid for the Senate a day after Menendez was indicted. First lady Tammy Murphy, by contrast, ran the traditional way by supporting party supporters who could use their influence to give her a “line,” which in many states gave her a chance to vote in the primary.
Kim sued, saying the line was illegal, and a US District Court judge agreed, throwing out the line for the 2024 Democratic primary and potentially all primary elections. And Tammy Murphy, who had been facing anger from the left for her courtship of politicians, dropped out of the race early.
Kim rushed to expand abortion rights after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wadeincreasing health care by implementing ethical measures, such as congressional stock trading bans. But his lasting legacy may be a dramatic change to New Jersey’s voting system, with primary votes organized by office sought rather than supported by party.
The change, while seemingly technical, threatens to diminish the influence of New Jersey county chairs who have for decades been able to influence, or in some cases hand-pick, which voters become first-runners.
Now Kim holds one of three statewide elected offices in New Jersey, and his relationship with Murphy, who will step down in January 2026, as well as other state Democratic leaders, remains strained.