Democratic Rep. Andy Kim wins New Jersey Senate race to replace Bob Menendez, CBS News projects
NEWARK, N.J. -- Democratic Rep. Andy Kim has defeated Republican businessman Curtis Bashaw in the closely-watched race to replace convicted New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez, CBS News projects.
Kim made a victory speech at his campaign headquarters, the DoubleTree Hotel in Cherry Hill, shortly after 9 p.m.
"I think we've shown that we built an incredible coalition all across New Jersey, people fired up for the kind of new era of politics we want to bring in. We've been excited about this, we've been working hard, all corners in New Jersey and we saw the value of that today," Kim told CBS News New York.
Kim is New Jersey's first Asian American senator. He said the hotel is where he and his parents stayed when they first arrived in New Jersey.
"I wanted to pay tribute to my parents, to my family, to this state for giving a kid like me a chance to be able to dream, for giving me the tools through public education and a kind community," he said.
Kim said he's hopeful, but concerned about division in the country.
"I am very much worried about this. You know, we're at a time when we have such distrust in government and we see former President Donald Trump and others sowing that doubt, and I just worry about our ability to continue when that undermining of the very fabric of our democracy is constantly happening. So I want to be somebody that can help restore that sense of integrity," Kim said.
Bashaw conceded the race in a speech at his campaign headquarters.
Democrats viewed the New Jersey senate race as key to keeping control of the upper chamber, since registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by about one million. The state has not elected a Republican to the Senate since 1972.
Though polls closed at 8 p.m., a judge ruled voting hours in Burlington County would be extended after the Attorney General complained about "unacceptably long lines—in some cases exceeding three hours." The ruling allowed anyone in Burlington County to vote if they were in line by 9 p.m.
Click here for more New Jersey election results.
Kim wants to restore trust after Menendez scandal
Kim, a three-term congressman, said he was running to restore integrity and trust in government, after Menendez resigned in the wake of a bribery scandal.
"Eighty-four percent of people in New Jersey surveyed believe that their politicians are corrupt. That is what is contributing to the undermining of our democracy and the concerns that so many of us have," Kim said at his Moorestown polling place.
A national security advisor in the Obama administration, Kim during his campaign touted Democrats' accomplishments, such as lowering prescription drug costs, and criticized former President Donald Trump for eliminating the SALT deduction. Trump reversed his previous position on SALT on the campaign trail this year.
"The work that we did to lower prescription drug costs, as I said, capping insulin costs at $35 a month ... We see right now, just unprecedented level of attacks facing the LGBTQ community, and a lot of those attacks are emanating from colleagues of mine in Congress, Republicans," Kim said.
Bashaw wanted to end "one-party monopoly"
Bashaw won the Republican primary by campaigning on ending a "one-party monopoly" in New Jersey.
"New Jerseyans are ready for change and there's just something happening in the electorate that is just exhilarating," Bashaw said. "People are crisscrossing the ballot. There's people voting for Kamala Harris that are very openly saying 'I'm voting for you.'"
Bashaw's platform included securing the U.S.-Mexico border and the economy. He said he supports abortion rights and would vote in favor of federal legislation to protect a woman's right to choose.
"I'm a gay married man, I'm pro-choice ... I don't think we can spend our way to prosperity. I don't think that we can regulate our way to success. I believe we need to unshackle our businesses," Bashaw said to CBS News New York.
Bashaw would've been the first openly gay senator from the Garden State if the seat flipped to the GOP.
There were four other candidates in the race, including from the Libertarian and Green parties.
Gov. Phil Murphy appointed his former chief of staff George Helmy to fill the seat until the election, after Menendez stepped down in August.