Democratic Senator-elect Andy Kim was appointed to the upper chamber of Congress early on Sunday following his election win last month.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, a fellow Democrat, announced on Sunday that he appointed Kim to the U.S. Senate following the official certification of the 2024 election results by the state board of canvassers and Sen. George Helmy’s resignation on Thursday. Helmy, a former chief of staff to Murphy, was sworn into the Senate in September after Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., was convicted in a federal corruption trial and resigned from the Senate a month prior.
Kim defeated GOP businessman Curtis Bashaw by nearly 10 percentage points in November’s election.
“Today, I am appointing Senator-elect Andy Kim to the United States Senate so he can begin his term in office before the new year begins,” Murphy said in a statement. “Taking this step will allow Senator Kim to embark on the smoothest possible transition into his new role so he can hit the ground running serving the people of New Jersey.”
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Rep. Andy Kim, D-N.J., speaks to delegates in Paramus, N.J., March 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)
Murphy congratulated Kim “for making history as the first Asian American Senator from New Jersey and as the first Korean American Senator in the nation.”
“His election represents a proud milestone – not just for our great state, but for our entire country,” Murphy said. “I look forward to working with Senator Kim to continue lowering costs for New Jerseyans, defending our fundamental freedoms, and building a stronger and fairer state for every family.”
Kim, who will be sworn in on Monday, said it is an honor “to get to represent the state that gave my family a chance at the American Dream in the U.S. Senate.”
“It’s a dream that remains out of reach for too many of our neighbors, and one that I’m ready on day one to fight for,” Kim, who…
