Democrat Andy Kim wins N.J. Senate race defeating Republican Curtis Bashaw, 4 others

Democrat U.S. Rep. Andy Kim has won New Jersey’s U.S. Senate race, defeating his Republican counterpart Curtis Bashaw and four other candidates.

Flanked by family, friends and supporters at the DoubleTree Hilton in Cherry Hill, Kim said he will work toward healing a divided nation. “Let there be no doubt that this is a new era of politics rising, the same old same old is done and we’ve shown New Jersey that there is a better way,” he said. “It could mean a politics that lifts people up, that gives people hope, that delivers for everyone, it could mean a politics that changes the trajectory of our nation and builds a better future.”

Kim will occupy the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Bob Menendez earlier this summer. Menendez resigned in August after being found guilty in his federal bribery and corruption trial.

Kim said he chose to hold his election night celebration at the hotel because 37 years ago, his family stayed there when they first arrived in New Jersey. He was 5 years old.

“I wanted to be here tonight in this hotel, to pay tribute to my parents, to my family, to the state, for giving a kid like me a chance to be able to dream, for giving me the tools through public education and a kind community,” he said. “I will not be perfect, I will stumble and I will struggle at times, but I assure you I will give this everything I’ve got,” he said.

Kim, who grew up in South Jersey and has represented the 3rd Congressional district since 2019, made affordability and restoring integrity and trust in politics his key campaign issues. On the campaign trail, Kim highlighted his efforts in Congress to improve housing affordability, raise the minimum wage and help seniors.

Kim announced he would run against Menendez in the fall of last year, one day after Menendez was indicted for a second time on federal corruption charges. New Jersey first lady Tammy Murphy had also entered the primary race, but she dropped out in March after she struggled to build support.

During the campaign, Kim won a significant legal battle and was able to change the “county line” ballot arrangement in New Jersey, which gave candidates supported by party leaders a favored position on printed ballots.

Republican Curtis Bashaw, who grew up in Camden County, had focused on border security and affordability in his campaign.

He frequently described himself as an agent of change, and said as an openly gay man who supports pro-choice policy that he was not a typical Republican candidate. Bashaw defeated Mendham Mayor Christine Serrano Glassner, who was backed by former President Donald Trump in the GOP primary, but his endorsement of Trump for president likely hurt his chances for a Senate victory with New Jersey voters.