Democrat Andy Kim wins open New Jersey Senate seat, defeating Republican Curtis Bashaw

Associated Press

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Democratic U.S. Rep. Andy Kim was elected Tuesday to the U.S. Senate, defeating Republican businessman Curtis Bashaw for the seat that opened when Bob Menendez resigned this year after his federal conviction on bribery charges. Kim becomes the first Korean-American in the Senate. His victory keeps a reliably Democratic seat under his party’s control. A three-term congressman, Kim gained national attention in 2021 when he was spotted cleaning up the U.S. Capitol after the Jan. 6 insurrection, bagging trash. And in another closely watched race, Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. claimed victory in the 7th Congressional District over Democratic challenger Sue Altman, who conceded.