Kim gets 3rd Democratic county party endorsement for U.S. Senate
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
FLEMINGTON — Hunterdon County Democrats have given U.S. Rep. Andy Kim a third endorsement in his drive to be the party nominee to face indicted Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez in the June primary.
Kim, a Moorestown resident who represents the 3rd Congressional District, received 120 votes to 64 for Tammy Murphy, wife of the governor, at the Hunterdon County Convention on Sunday.
It came one day after Kim picked up his home-county endorsement with a win in Burlington County.
The Hunterdon convention was the third to use secret ballots to pick a Senate candidate. Democratic organizations in Monmouth and Burlington counties also use the "open convention" approach and endorsed Kim, according to campaign press secretary Katey Sabo.
More: Donald Norcross, Claire Gustafson meet again in 1st Congressional District race
More: Historic Haddon Heights church demise opening new role for White Horse Pike campus
Kim, now in his third term in the Congress, said the vote reflects the outcome when people “freely vote their conscience.” He said he intends to compete in every county convention. Other upcoming open conventions will be in Sussex, Warren, and Bergen counties.
“Regardless of continued victories across the state, I stand by my call for every county to use an office block ballot design so that the voters can have a fair, equitable choice this June,” Kim said.
The Burlington County convention vote on Feb. 24 was 245 for Kim and 21 for Murphy.
Elected officials from Burlington County who have endorsed Kim include state Sen. Troy Singleton and the county Board of Commissioners members Felicia Hopson, Daniel O’Connor, Allison Eckel, Tom Pullion, and Balvir Singh.
His support also includes Democratic clubs and committees in Riverton, Hainesport, Evesham Township, Moorestown, and Florence in Burlington.
The American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees’s International Council and New Jersey Council 63 endorsed Kim in January.
As of January, the campaign reports its fundraising had brought in about $2.75 million in less than a month.
Kim declared his candidacy in September 2023. The first official event was Nov. 10, 2023 at the Double Nickel Brewing Co. in Burlington County.
Kim and Murphy went head-to-head, at least virtually, in a Feb. 18 debate. The debate was hosted by the New Jersey Globe, On New Jersey, and the Rebovich Institute of New Jersey Politics and Rider University.
Candidates lining up to run for vacant Kim seat
Kim won his first two-year term in the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2018 election.
Four Democrats and three Republicans have filed candidacy statements to succeed Kim in the 3rd Congressional District, according to Federal Election Commission records.
The Democrats are 7th District state Assemblywoman Carol Murphy of Mount Laurel, who declared in January; Dr. Herb Conaway of Willingboro, who declared in December 2023; Joseph Cohn of Lumberton, who declared in January; and Sarah Schoengood of Freehold, who also declared in January.
The Republicans are Shirley Maia-Cusick of Mount Holly, who declared in October 2023; Gregory Sobocinski of Bordentown, who declared in June 2023; and Rajesh Mohan of Holmdel, who declared in February.
Joe Smith is a N.E. Philly native transplanted to South Jersey 36 years ago, keeping an eye now on government in South Jersey. He is a former editor and current senior staff writer for The Daily Journal in Vineland, Courier-Post in Cherry Hill, and the Burlington County Times.
Have a tip? Reach out at jsmith@thedailyjournal.com. Support local journalism with a subscription.
This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Hunterdon Democrats like Kim for U.S. Senate nomination
