There’s more to Tuesday’s election than just the Presidency. New Jersey voters will decide Tuesday between Democratic Rep. Andy Kim and Republican Curtis Bashaw to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by former Senator Bob Menendez, who resigned in disgrace after a federal bribery conviction.
The race has drawn attention nationally, with Democrats hoping to retain their slim Senate majority. New Jersey, a state that hasn’t elected a Republican senator in over half a century, offers little room for error for Democrats.
Kim, 42, has represented New Jersey’s 3rd Congressional District since 2018. The former Obama administration aide gained national visibility in 2021 for cleaning the U.S. Capitol after the Jan. 6 insurrection. If elected, he would become the first Korean-American senator from New Jersey. During his campaign, Kim has focused on healthcare reform, support for small businesses, and climate policy, positioning himself as a progressive yet practical candidate.
Bashaw, 64, a hotel developer from Cape May, is making his first political run. A self-described moderate, Bashaw emphasizes his support for abortion rights and describes himself as a “common-sense candidate” for New Jersey. He has personally invested $1 million in his campaign and, in debates, has highlighted his outsider status, contrasting himself with career politicians. Additionally, he has looked to distance himself from MAGA politics in favor of a more pragmatic approach to traditional conservatism.
The race has been complicated by Menendez’s conviction, which led Kim to challenge him shortly after his indictment. Menendez’s resignation brought interim senator George Helmy into office, but the winner of Tuesday’s election will be appointed to serve the remainder of the term.
The stakes extend beyond the Senate, with all 12 of New Jersey’s House seats also on the ballot, including a key race in the 7th District where Republican Tom Kean Jr. faces Democrat Sue Altman.
With early and mail-in voting already underway, New Jersey’s polls close at 8 p.m., when results are expected to begin rolling in.