Andy Kim becomes first Korean-American elected to Senate after New Jersey win
Rep. Andy Kim has become the first Korean-American elected to the U.S. Senate.
The Democrat will take over the New Jersey seat held by former Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez , who resigned in August after being indicted on federal bribery and corruption charges.
The Associated Press called the race for Kim just after 8 p.m. on Tuesday night. Kim, who has represented the state's 3rd congressional district since 2019, defeated Republican Curtis Bashaw, a Cape May real estate developer.
Kim thanked his supporters at a victory celebration late Tuesday, saying he was having a "hard time processing this moment."
"I say to you from the bottom of my heart as the Jersey kid who never thought he would be able to say this: I am your next United States Senator," Kim told supporters.
He thanked his parents and his wife, Kammy, for their continued support, before turning to his sons, Austin, 9, and August, 7, who had joined him on stage to tell them he hoped they were proud of him.
Election results live updates: Trump, Harris battle in swing states; see electoral map Who is Andy Kim?Kim has made a name for himself as a reformer. He declared his candidacy in September 2023, a day after Menendez was indicted on federal bribery and corruption charges. Menendez was convicted on a group of those charges in July and resigned his seat in August.
Before the primary election, Kim was mostly known for being photographed in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda, with a trash bag in hand, cleaning up after the pro-Trump mob breached the Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021.
Just days after the attack, Kim said he was walking around the Capitol surveying the damage for himself in between votes when he was overcome with emotion, as first reported by NBC News . "I wanted to see it with my own eyes, and when I got to the rotunda, I felt compelled to do something."
Who is Curtis Bashaw?Bashaw is best known for his work as a business owner and developer, including the historic restorations of Congress Hall and the Virginia Hotel in Cape May. He also served on the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority and the Richard Stockton State College board of trustees.
The hotelier conceded the race in a speech to a standing-room only crowd and said he called Kim to congratulate him.
"I believe we have fought a good fight," Bashaw said, periodically interrupted by applause from the crowd. "We are building a bigger and better Republican party together."
"Thank you Curtis!" one member of the crowd shouted, prompting applause from the crowd.
Bashaw beat Mendham Borough Mayor Christine Serrano Glassner, a Donald Trump-endorsed opponent, in his party's primary in June.
Why was Bob Menendez indicted?Menendez was found guilty on federal bribery charges in July after pleading not guilty in the corruption case. During his trial he filed to run for reelection as an independent but withdrew his bid the following month.
In August, he filed for an acquittal and a new trial , with his attorneys arguing the government failed to prove he took any actions in exchange for things of value.
His son, Rob Menendez, won reelection Tuesday for the state's 8th congressional district, The Associated Press confirmed. The Democrat incumbent defeated Republican challenger Anthony Valdes and three others candidates.
