Andy Kim Takes Senate Seat Early

By Jennie L. Ilustre

Andy Kim, the first Korean American to win a seat in the U.S. Senate, has taken office a month earlier, before the 119th Congress opens in January.

Senator-elect Kim, 42, took office following his appointment by New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and the resignation of interim Senator George Hemley, Politico reported. Kim, a father of two sons, said in his website that it was “an honor to represent the state that gave my family a chance at the American Dream in the U.S. Senate. I grew up in New Jersey, and I’m incredibly humbled to serve my community in Congress,” he said. “I believe more than ever that we need more good, hardworking people focused on delivering tangible solutions.”

Kim, a Democrat, took the seat left vacant by Sen. Bob Menendez (D). Menendez resigned in office in August, after being convicted of political corruption charges. He was most recently a three-term New Jersey congressman. He defeated Republican candidate Curtis Bashaw. Kim has a wide-ranging background in national security and diplomacy. He ran on a platform that highlighted implementing ethics measures, expanding abortion rights and health care.

Kim now joins the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus with a powerful voice as a senator. CAPAC is composed of Members of Congress of Asian and Pacific Islander descent, as well as other Members interested in promoting Asian American concerns and American issues. But his lasting legacy would be changing New Jersey’s ballot structure, Politico noted. Kim successfully challenged the long-standing design in a lawsuit. Primary ballots are now organized by office sought, instead of party endorsement.

Historic Election

Asian Americans hailed Kim’s historic election. “Andy’s election to the US Senate is much-needed great news not only for Korean Americans, but for all Americans because he exemplifies the very best in our democracy,” John Lim, Korean American Institute Chair, said in an email interview. He stressed: “As known to us all, he has dedicated his life to serving others and putting his country above politics. This is the right service we need now more than ever.”

Juliet K. Choi, President and CEO of the Asian Pacific Islander Health Forum, described Kim as “a life-long career public servant, putting the needs of his constituents and the American people first.” She added: “Moreover, he has a deep understanding of the challenges and needs of Asian American and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander families, including so many immigrant and hardworking Americans. We are so proud to have such a patriot represent us in the halls of Congress.”

“We’re thrilled to have endorsed Andy Kim for Senate and even more elated about his recent win,” said Executive Director Varun Nicore of AAPI Victory Alliance. “As we know, AAPIs are underrepresented in elected office. Andy’s win will inspire many more to run for elected office, and provide the representation we desperately need as a community. Asian American and Pacific Islanders, or AAPIs, make up 7% of the nation’s total population of over 300 million, but only 1% of elected public officials,” he noted. But he added this has been changing dramatically over the years.

Indeed, APAICS President & CEO Madalene Xuan-Trang Mielke said a record-breaking 550 Asian Americans and Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders ran in the last November elections at the state and federal levels. APAICS is the acronym of the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies. She said the candidates came from both the Democratic and Republican parties, and notably 224 of them are women.

APAICS is “a national non-partisan, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting Asian Pacific American participation and representation at all levels of the political process, from community service to elected office. APAICS programs focus on developing leadership, building public policy knowledge, “and filling the political pipeline for Asian Pacific Americans to pursue public office at the local, state, and federal levels.”

About Kim

Kim was born in Boston. His father was a PhD scientist and his mother was a nurse. In his website, he said his parents chose to raise their children in New Jersey because “the top-notch public school system would give us the best opportunity to succeed.”

He completed K-12 in New Jersey, “and that education helped me to become a Rhodes scholar.” He graduated from the University of Chicago with a degree in political science. He attended Magdalen College in Oxford after receiving a Rhodes scholarship and a Harry S. Truman scholarship.

Kim worked at the U.S. State Department, and Wikipedia notes he served in Afghanistan as a civilian adviser to Generals David Petraeus and John R. Allen. He then worked as a national security adviser under President Barack Obama.

He ran for the U.S. Congress in 2020, and served for three terms.