TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey’s voters are currently faced with a choice between Democratic U.S. Representative Andy Kim and hotel entrepreneur Curtis Bashaw, a Republican, as they vie for the Senate seat previously held by Democrat Bob Menendez, who resigned after a federal bribery conviction.
This Senate contest is drawing significant attention due to the slim majority held by Democrats, making every vote crucial in a state that hasn’t elected a Republican to the Senate in over five decades.
“I feel a strong obligation to ensure not only that we serve New Jersey well but also that we maintain a majority for the country to push through essential legislation,” Kim remarked recently.
The race features Kim, who has represented New Jersey’s third district for three terms, against Bashaw, a newcomer in the political arena and businessman hailing from Cape May. Additionally, four other candidates, including those from the Green, Libertarian, and Socialist parties, will also be on the ballot.
Meanwhile, the contest for New Jersey’s electoral votes between Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican former President Donald Trump remains predictable, given that the state hasn’t supported a Republican presidential candidate since 1988, despite Trump’s connections to the area through his golf courses and former casino ventures in Atlantic City.
At 42, Kim began his congressional career in 2018, defeating Republican Tom MacArthur, who had associations with Trump. Since then, Kim has successfully won re-election twice. His campaign has focused on opposing tax breaks for wealthy individuals while advocating for abortion rights.
Kim is a former aide on national security in the Obama administration, a Rhodes Scholar, and holds a Ph.D. from Oxford. He has promoted his image as a diligent and relatable public servant and gained national recognition in 2021 when he was seen cleaning up debris in the U.S. Capitol following the January 6 insurrection.
If elected, Kim would not only be New Jersey’s first Asian-American U.S. House member but would also become the first Korean-American senator in history.
On the other hand, Bashaw has personally funded his campaign with over $1 million, as per Federal Election Commission records. He secured the GOP nomination in June after defeating a challenger supported by Trump. A first-time candidate, he has held various positions on boards for entities like Stockton University and a state tourism committee.
At age 64, Bashaw describes himself as a moderate, supporting abortion rights and identifying as a married gay man.
“When my party aligns with my ideals, I will endorse it. Conversely, if my party diverges from what is right, I will speak out against it,” he articulated recently.
Bashaw has expressed his support for Trump, a figure that has polarized opinions in New Jersey, a state where Democrats successfully flipped four congressional seats during Trump’s presidency in the 2018 midterm elections.
Kim capitalized on this dynamic in a recent debate, stating, “His sole endorsement is for Donald Trump as president. That gives us insight into his judgment, which I fundamentally oppose.”
The Senate race started off tumultuously for the Democratic party, as they contended with an incumbent senator under the shadow of a second federal corruption trial. Menendez was convicted on bribery charges involving cash, luxury vehicles, and gold bars but has consistently denied all allegations, as he did during a previous trial that ended in a mistrial.
Democrats opted to distance themselves from Menendez this time around. Kim notably declared his candidacy the day after Menendez’s indictment last fall.
However, the journey to secure the nomination was not straightforward. First Lady Tammy Murphy initiated her own campaign with substantial funding and extensive support among party insiders. Kim disrupted traditional politics in New Jersey by initiating a federal lawsuit to challenge a practice allowing party leaders to manipulate ballot formations, which was seen as preferential treatment for chosen candidates. This lawsuit resulted in an initial ruling favoring Kim, prompting Murphy to withdraw from the race, allowing Kim to secure an easy victory in June.
The eventual winner of the Senate seat is expected to assume their role quickly; following Menendez’s resignation, Democratic Governor Phil Murphy appointed George Helmy as the interim senator. Both officials have confirmed that once the election results are officially verified in November, Helmy will resign, allowing the governor to appoint the winner to fill the remainder of Menendez’s term, which concludes in January.
In addition, all 12 U.S. House seats from New Jersey are up for election. Notably, the 7th District, which spans from the Delaware River and Pennsylvania border to central New Jersey, including parts of the New York suburbs, is closely monitored. There, Republican Tom Kean Jr. is competing for re-election against Sue Altman, a Democrat and former official from the Working Families alliance. Currently, New Jersey’s House delegation comprises 10 Democrats and three Republicans.
Voters have been casting their ballots for weeks through mail-in voting and early in-person options, but the results will be announced only after the polls close at 8 p.m. All 12 of the state’s House seats are also on the ballot.