The 2024 United States Senate election in New Jersey was held on November 5, 2024, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the state of New Jersey. Democratic Congressman Andy Kim defeated Republican real estate developer Curtis Bashaw in the general election with about 54 percent of the vote. Kim succeeded fellow Democrat George Helmy, who served as an interim appointee for the remainder of Bob Menendez's third term. Kim assumed office on December 8, 2024, after his election was certified, in order to give an advantage in seniority.[1][2]
Menendez, who had represented New Jersey in the senate since 2006, began to face an uncertain political future after he was indicted for federal corruption charges in 2023, his second such indictment.[3] Amid questions over whether Menendez would seek a fourth term, a contentious Democratic primary took place between Kim and First Lady of New Jersey Tammy Murphy that was marked by allegations of nepotism and party favoritism towards Murphy. In March, Menendez announced he would not seek the Democratic nomination and Murphy withdrew from the race, leaving Kim as the only major Democratic candidate.[4][5] Menendez filed to run as an independent ahead of the June primaries, but after being convicted of federal corruption the following month, he ended his candidacy and resigned from the Senate.[6][7][8]
In the June 4 primary, Kim won the Democratic nomination with 75% of the vote. Bashaw won the Republican nomination with 45% of the vote, defeating Mendham Borough Mayor Christine Serrano Glassner, who was endorsed by former president Donald Trump and his allies. After the general election, Kim became the first Korean American senator, the first Asian American to represent New Jersey in the Senate, and the first person from South Jersey to represent the state in the Senate since 1955.[9][10] Kim flipped Gloucester County and narrowly held Passaic County, both of which voted for Republican candidate Donald Trump in the simultaneous presidential election. Cumberland County voted Republican in a Senate election for the first time since 1972, and the first time in this seat since 1952. This was the closest Senate election in the state since 2006.
Democratic primary
Background
In 2023, incumbent three-term Democrat Bob Menendez was indicted on federal corruption charges that he aided and provided sensitive information to the Egyptian government.[11][12] Menendez was previously indicted on federal corruption charges in 2015 for bribery, fraud, and making false statements;[13] the charges were dropped in 2018 after the jury was unable to reach a verdict and he was re-elected to a third term the same year.[14][15] Amid calls from several prominent Democrats to resign, Menendez did not seek the Democratic nomination, but filed to run for re-election as an independent.[16][17] Menendez was found guilty of federal corruption in July.[6]
Following Menendez's 2023 indictment, two prominent Democrats announced their Senate candidacy: U.S. Representative Andy Kim and First Lady of New Jersey Tammy Murphy.[18][19] The primary between Murphy and Kim was seen as competitive, as even though Kim led comfortably in polls, Murphy had received significant party support and the county line endorsements in many heavily populated counties along with endorsements from many county party chairs and from New Jersey Democratic Party chair LeRoy J. Jones Jr. Kim, however, had received support from many national and progressive Democrats such as Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman, the College Democrats of America, and the College Democrats of New Jersey. Murphy announced her withdrawal from the race on March 24, citing poor polling.[20]
Allegations of nepotism
Tammy Murphy in 2021
Murphy's candidacy had given rise to allegations of cronyism and nepotism due to her being the wife of incumbent GovernorPhil Murphy. Critics argued that since her husband is the head of the New JerseyDemocratic Party, it would have ensured her victory.[21] These accusations grew after she entered into the race as the chairs of the Hudson, Camden, Bergen, Somerset, Essex,[b] and Middlesex county Democratic organizations endorsed Murphy; these represent 40% of Democratic voters in New Jersey. Candidates in New Jersey who receive the endorsement of county chairs are often placed in a premier position of the primary election ballot, bracketed with other endorsed candidates, called the "party" or "county line." Candidates who are "on the line" typically win the June primary.[22]
Murphy had responded to questions about her qualification for office due to not having been elected to office before and her previously being a registered Republican as being sexist, saying: "I'm not sure a male would be asked this question."[23] At a candidate forum at the County College of Morris in January 2024, Murphy was asked to address the "elephant in the room" about her perceived advantage as the wife of Governor Phil Murphy. She replied that she was "honored and thrilled" to receive endorsements from New Jersey Democrats, who endorsed her "not because my husband asked them, but because I asked them. They know me."[24] She promised to "earn every vote" and to listen to "not only the people who are with me, but both sides, and not just seeing through one lens". A number of members of Congress who had endorsed her have also said they endorsed her over Kim because she asked, and because of her work for women's health, children, and seniors.[25]
Endorsement controversies
On December 24, 2023, Mountainside Democratic Municipal Chair and former NOW-NJ President Anjali Mehrotra announced that she would support Kim. However, she later retracted this statement, deciding to back Murphy's campaign and criticize Kim's candidacy.[26]
On January 10, 2024, the College Democrats of New Jersey (CDNJ) in conjunction with the College Democrats of America (CDA) endorsed Kim.[27] Four days later, it was revealed that, before the CDNJ announced their endorsement of Kim, they received a call from a college student who serves as the Youth Coordinator for the state party. In the call, the staffer asked the CDNJ to cancel the group's endorsement of Kim, expressing concerns over CDNJ members' future job prospects and funding.[28]
The staffer would later say that while Murphy's campaign had not asked her to pressure the group on their behalf, but had wanted "to do something to prevent the endorsement." Murphy's campaign responded, saying the staffer's comments were "totally and completely inappropriate, and they in no way represent this campaign or what we stand for," and adding that the staffer had no connection to Murphy's campaign.[29] The Murphy campaign also said that all of the students involved in this "unfortunate situation" should be afforded the "grace, allowance and forgiveness that we all deserve at that age." Tammy Murphy, meanwhile, called the College Democrats of New Jersey's vice president to apologize.[30] Kim responded on X (Twitter) saying in part, "This is why people lose faith in democracy and our system."[31] On January 17, the CDA called on the national Democratic National Committee to open an investigation into what happened between the state party and Murphy's campaign, while reaffirming their support for Kim saying: "We will not be intimidated or silenced by those who seek to undermine our values and our vision for a more just and equitable world."[32]
On February 5, 2024, the Murphy campaign unveiled a large list of endorsements from Monmouth County Democratic officials.[33] However, later that day, multiple people whose names were on the list denied ever having endorsed her, with many still claiming that they were neutral in the race.[34] Despite his neutrality the day before, Bradley Beach Democratic Municipal Chair Steve Lozowick changed course again on February 6, announcing his support for Murphy.[35]
On March 16, 2024, Murphy was endorsed by the Camden County Democratic Committee, having already received the support of powerbroker George Norcross. However, at the committee meeting (which was largely just a formality due to the county's lack of an open convention), candidate Patricia Campos-Medina was denied entry, being physically barred by multiple guards.[36] This incident led to a condemnation by Kim (who had also been denied access after requesting speaking time prior to the event), while Murphy stated that "You'll have to talk to Camden" when asked about the incident.[37] Murphy's response to the incident, along with other alleged concerns, led to Jersey CitymayorSteven Fulop pulling his support for Murphy the following day and backing Kim, according to Fulop.[38]
On March 17, 2024, the Hoboken Democrats voted to endorse Kim for Senate.[39] Shortly after, chair Rachel Hodes resigned, stating that she has been receiving pressure since February by officials from both the Murphy and Menendez campaigns, as well as the Hudson County Democratic Organization, to change the Hoboken endorsement process as a way to prevent a Kim endorsement.[40]
County lines
Although the practice was recently enjoined by a federal judge in Kim v. Hanlon, New Jersey is alone among the 50 states in authorizing local officials to award a strongly favorable ballot position to favored candidates in a prominent column on the ballot called the "county line."[41] The county line on the ballot has come under heavy criticism during the Senate primary as an allegedly undemocratic result of political machine and political boss power in the state.[42]
Due to this unique preferential-ballot-placement "county line" system in New Jersey, some NJ county parties hold conventions to decide which candidate gains the sought-after county-endorsed ballot position in the June primary, while other counties issue the line by private leadership fiat.[43] The first in the state convention in Monmouth County is often considered a bellwether for other conventions throughout the state, and has been called the "Iowa caucus of the New Jersey Senate race." On February 10, 2024, Kim won the convention in what some described as an upset victory, where it was assumed Murphy would perform better, especially in her home county.[44]
Uniquely among the states, New Jersey law authorizes a county chair of the county political party to make their own sole decision as an individual as to whom to award the line.[45] Nevertheless, excluding Sussex and Salem, which do not award a line but do provide an endorsement, processes vary by custom in each county as detailed in this collapsible table on the primary lines as awarded during county award season:[46][47][48][49]
County
Date of convention (or private leadership decision)
Endorsement process
Voting method
Winner
Number of registered Democratic voters in county[50]
A professor and director of the Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling at Rutgers University opined to The Hill that a major distinction existed between the Murphy-as-victor county endorsements and the Kim-as-victor county endorsements. While Kim won almost all of the county endorsements chosen by a secret ballot at an open convention, Murphy did better in convention-free counties where a county chair decides individually who to back. Said the director: "I think their wins show this steep division where Kim has been winning all of the open conventions, and Tammy Murphy has been winning the conventions that have some sort of advisory panel or advisory vote or party boss at the helm."[70]
On February 12, 2024, it was revealed that prior to her loss at the Monmouth County Democratic Convention, Murphy was repeatedly offered a shared line that she could jointly run on with Kim, but she rejected it, believing that she had enough votes to secure the line for herself.[71] On February 15, it was reported that a similar deal was being proposed for Burlington County by state senatorTroy Singleton, who was also attempting to avoid a convention fight between two candidates vying for Kim's House seat, state representativesHerb Conaway and Carol Murphy.[72] On February 18, after the first debate between Kim and Murphy, Kim said that he would not accept a shared line deal in Burlington unless Murphy was willing to share the line in every county. He also stated that the Murphys themselves were behind the push in Burlington for a shared line deal.[73] A third deal was attempted on February 25, by Hunterdon County Democratic Chair Arlene Quiñones Perez (recently appointed to the New Jersey Racing Commission by Murphy's husband)[74] where any candidate who received more than 30% of the Hunterdon County convention results would get the line, forcing Kim to share the line despite winning the vote, but this was defeated in a voice vote by the convention attendees.[59]
In Bergen County where Murphy won the county line, Kim supporters alleged that the county chair, Paul Juliano, who was recently placed with the governor's support in a $280,000-a-year New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority job, and the county leadership suppressed efforts to allow Kim to speak to delegates and stacked the committee unilaterally with bonus voting delegates loyal to the chair.[75][76]
Federal judge Zahid Quraishi issued an injunction against the county line on March 29, directing clerks to instead print ballots with candidates organized by office in randomized order.
In Somerset County, where the county chair, Peg Schaffer, a recently added board member at the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, had endorsed Murphy and where a whole-committee vote for the line was held on March 7, some committee members advocated for the usual show of hands or otherwise public vote to be replaced by a secret ballot at the line award in order to quell fears about retaliation.[77] At the Somerset convention, the county chair denied a motion for secret ballot as "out of order" and the vote was held by a show of hands. A Star-Ledger columnist who attended the Somerset convention sharply criticized it as undemocratic and preferentially structured in Murphy's favor, pointing out that the county chair had sent out an advertisement in the name of the county party in support of Murphy in advance, had refused to allow confidential ballots, and had sent out a letter pointedly reminding delegates of the "rewarding" state and county jobs that delegates had allegedly received with Murphy's help.[78]
In Middlesex County, the county chair, Kevin McCabe, who is a lobbyist before the Murphy Administration on matters of wind power, was nominated by Murphy's husband to the powerful board of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and has the sole authority to award the line as he sees fit,[80] denied a floor motion for a secret ballot at the gathering to award the line despite alleged chanting for same by delegates (according to the Kim campaign, as reporters were barred from the event).[81][48]
In Cumberland County, the Democratic party was split into two rivaling factions, one ran by county chair Kevin McCann (backing Murphy), and the other ran by anti-McCann committeemembers (backing Kim). Neither group made a formal endorsement, leaving no candidate to receive the line.[82]
After Murphy's withdrawal from the race, counties that awarded their lines to Murphy will have the option to award the line to Kim instead.[20] Kim was able to receive the line in 17 of the 19 counties that award a line, with Cumberland not awarding one due to their split organization and Kim rejecting the Camden line due to their presence as the opposing council in his lawsuit against the line.[83][84]
On February 26, 2024, Kim filed a federal lawsuit, Kim v. Hanlon, in the District Court of New Jersey, aiming to redesign the primary ballot in New Jersey and claiming that the current preferential ballot placement is unconstitutional.[85] At the time of the filing, the Murphy campaign called the suit a "sad hypocritical stunt."[86]
On March 29, Judge Zahid Quraishi issued an injunction in the suit against the county line, directing clerks to instead print ballots with candidates organized by office in randomized order for the 2024 primary election.[87]
A WNBC spokesman stated that Kim and Murphy will debate in person in May 2024 at 30 Rockefeller Plaza to be broadcast state-wide.[213]
Kim and Murphy on Sunday, February 18, 2024, both participated in a live streamed event hosted by the New Jersey Globe, rather than an in-person debate.[214][215] Both candidates were invited to a previous debate on February 4; Kim accepted, but Murphy declined. As a result, Kim appeared before a panel of journalists alone to discuss his candidacy.[216]
A third debate was announced on April 30, 2024, to be hosted by WNYC, New Jersey Public Radio, the American Civil Liberties Union, and Salvation for Social Justice. Unlike the previous debates, Campos-Medina and Hamm were invited to participate. The debate was broadcast via WHYY-FM.[217][218][219]
Debates among candidates for the Democratic nomination for Senate in New Jersey
No.
Date and time
Host
Moderator
Link
Participants
P Present A Absent I Invited N Not invited Out Out of race W Withdrawn
Following his federal corruption conviction in July, Senator Bob Menendez announced he would resign from the Senate, effective on August 20, 2024. Governor Phil Murphy stated he would appoint an interim replacement for the current term until the November election.[1] This announcement fueled speculation that Murphy would appoint Democratic nominee Andy Kim to the seat, as he is the favorite to win the general election.[299] Republican nominee Curtis Bashaw released a public statement urging Murphy to appoint a caretaker to the seat, arguing selecting Kim would give him incumbency advantage.[300] On July 16, Murphy appointed Port Authority of New York and New Jersey commissioner and his former chief of staff George Helmy to the seat.[301]
During the first debate, about six minutes after the discussion began, Bashaw appeared to freeze for several seconds. After which, Kim approached Bashaw, and tried to help him with the moderators soon sending the debate into a commercial break.[341] After a ten minute break, the debate returned with Bashaw present. Explaining that he did not eat all day, but felt better, and the debate resumed without further interruption.[342]
2024 United States Senate general election in New Jersey debates
Kim won 27 of 40 State Legislative districts, including three with Republican state senators. Bashaw won 13 districts, including one held by a Democrat.[347]
Thomas Howard Kean Jr. is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative from New Jersey's 7th congressional district since 2023. He represented New Jersey's 21st legislative district in the New Jersey Senate from 2003 to 2022, serving as minority leader from 2008 to 2022.
Elections in New Jersey are authorized under Article II of the New Jersey State Constitution, which establishes elections for the governor, the lieutenant governor, and members of the New Jersey Legislature. Elections are regulated under state law, Title 19. The office of the New Jersey Secretary of State has a Division of Elections that oversees the execution of elections under state law. In addition, the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) is responsible for administering campaign financing and lobbying disclosure.
The 2018 United States Senate election in New Jersey took place on November 6, 2018, in order to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the state of New Jersey. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Bob Menendez won reelection to a third term over Republican businessman Bob Hugin, after the former's criminal trial ended in a mistrial.
Ravinder Singh Bhalla, often simply called Ravi Bhalla, is an American civil rights lawyer and politician, serving as the 39th Mayor of Hoboken, New Jersey, since 2018. Prior to becoming mayor, he served on the Hoboken City Council from 2009 to 2018. In 2017, he was elected as New Jersey's first Sikh mayor. A Democrat, Bhalla was a candidate for New Jersey's 8th congressional district in the 2024 election.
Tammy Murphy is an American political figure and activist who has been the first lady of New Jersey since 2018. A member of the Democratic Party, she was an unsuccessful candidate in the 2024 United States Senate election in New Jersey to challenge Bob Menendez. She co-owns the professional women's soccer team NJ/NY Gotham FC with her husband, New Jersey governor Phil Murphy, and chairs the organization.
Carol A. Murphy is an American politician of the Democratic Party, who has served in the New Jersey General Assembly since January 9, 2018.
Andrew Kim is an American politician and former diplomat serving since 2024 as the junior United States senator from New Jersey. A member of the Democratic Party, he served from 2019 to 2024 as the U.S. representative from New Jersey's 3rd congressional district.
The 2021 New Jersey gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 2021, to elect the governor of New Jersey. Incumbent governor Phil Murphy was first elected in 2017 with 56% of the vote and won re-election to a second term. Murphy and his running mate, Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver, defeated the Republican ticket of Jack Ciattarelli and Diane Allen, 51.2% to 48%.
The 2024 United States Senate elections were held on November 5, 2024. Regularly scheduled elections were held for 33 out of the 100 seats in the U.S. Senate, and special elections were held in California and Nebraska. U.S. senators are divided into three classes whose six-year terms are staggered so that a different class is elected every two years. Class 1 senators faced election in 2024. Republicans flipped four Democratic-held seats, regaining a Senate majority for the first time in four years, and the most gains since 2014.
The 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey were held on November 3, 2020, to elect the 12 U.S. representatives from the state of New Jersey, one from each of the state's 12 congressional districts. The primary election in which candidates were chosen took place on July 7, 2020. The general election coincided with the 2020 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate and various state and local elections.
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The 2021 New Jersey State Senate election was held on November 2, 2021. New Jersey voters elected state senators in all of the state's legislative districts for a two-year term to the New Jersey Senate. This was the first election since 1991 where Republicans net gained state Senate seats. Democrats would later be restored to 25 seats following the party switch of Samuel D. Thompson in 2023.
The 2025 New Jersey gubernatorial election is scheduled to take place on November 4, 2025, to elect the governor of New Jersey. Incumbent Democratic Governor Phil Murphy is term-limited and cannot seek re-election to a third term in office. Primary elections will take place on June 10, 2025.
Robert Jacobsen Menendez, Jr. is an American lawyer and politician serving as the U.S. representative for New Jersey's 8th congressional district since 2023. A member of the Democratic Party and son of former U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, he was a commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey from 2021 to 2023.
The 220th New Jersey Legislature began on January 11, 2022, following the 2021 elections for Assembly and Senate. It ended on January 9, 2024.
The 2024 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey were held on November 5, 2024, to elect the twelve U.S. representatives from the State of New Jersey, one from all twelve of the state's congressional districts. The elections coincided with the 2024 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate, and various state and local elections. The primary elections were held on June 4, 2024.
The 2023 New Jersey General Assembly elections were held on November 7, 2023. New Jersey voters elected two Assembly members in all of the state's legislative districts for a two-year term to the New Jersey General Assembly. This was the first election after redistricting following the 2020 United States census.
The 2023 New Jersey State Senate elections were held on November 7, 2023. New Jersey voters elected state senators in all of the state's legislative districts for a four-year term to the New Jersey Senate. This was the first election after redistricting following the 2020 United States census. The winners of these elections were sworn in on January 9, 2024.
The 2024 New Jersey's 10th congressional district special election was held on September 18, 2024, to fill the vacant seat in New Jersey's 10th congressional district. The winner will serve in the United States House of Representatives for the remainder of the 118th United States Congress. The seat became vacant on April 24, 2024, when Donald Payne Jr. died following a heart attack related to complications from diabetes. The urban district is considered a safely Democratic seat; Payne Jr. had won all 7 bids for this seat with at least 77.6% of the vote.
George Samir Helmy is an American politician who served as a United States senator from New Jersey from August to December 2024. A member of the Democratic Party, he was appointed by governor Phil Murphy after Senator Bob Menendez resigned. He served as Murphy's chief of staff from 2019 to 2023. Helmy is the first Coptic American U.S. senator.
↑ Mutnick, Ally; Ferris, Sarah; Wu, Nicholas (October 5, 2023). "New Jersey politics is a notorious mess. It's about to hit new levels of nasty". Politico. Retrieved October 9, 2023. One House member who doesn't appear to be going anywhere is Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.). He said in an interview that his focus was on taking back the House majority and re-securing the chairmanship of the Energy and Commerce committee.
↑ Friedman, Matt (August 13, 2023). "Bob Menendez tests Democrats' loyalty as feds target him again". Politico. Retrieved September 22, 2023. Former U.S. Sen. Bob Torricelli, who had expressed interest in running for Menendez's seat if he was convicted, was one of the men Menendez referred to. Torricelli, who said he no longer harbors any political ambitions, was the only Democrat POLITICO reached who was willing to say anything that Menendez could possibly construe as disloyal.
↑ Van Vliet, John (August 11, 2022). "Cruz Wants to Challenge Menendez". Insider NJ. Retrieved November 15, 2022. [Cruz] has become the first Republican to file to run against [Menendez]...An independent candidate, Nick Carducci, has also thrown his hat into the ring
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