WASHINGTON — Former Rep. Andy Kim of New Jersey has made history as the first Korean American elected to the U.S. Senate.
Kim, a Democrat and the Boston-born son of Korean immigrants, took the oath of office on Dec. 9.
“I’m overwhelmed by this chance to serve at a moment of profound anxiety about what comes next for our nation,” he said in a statement. “I promise I won’t lose myself along the way. I won’t let the job change me, instead I will work to change the job.
“I could see my two boys in the Senate gallery, dressed in their first suits, watching me as I raised my right hand. They look at me filled with pride while I look back at them filled with worry about what kind of America they are going to grow up in.
“I’ve decided to dedicate the rest of my life to addressing one singular question: how do we heal this country? I don’t have all the answers but I believe part of what we need is to ignite a new era of public service, a new ‘Ask not what this country can do for you’ moment. I am trying to do my part.
“Whether you voted for me or not, I serve you. I will not be perfect. I will stumble. And you may disagree strongly with my decisions. You may question my judgment, but I hope you never feel you need to question my motivations.
“Everything I do is for my boys, for your kids and grandkids. Because what is the point of our time on this planet if we take more than we give? Thanks for giving me the chance to shape the country our kids will grow old in. With humility I now start my work as a U.S. senator.”
On Dec. 18, Kim posted, “I learned Senate floor desks have drawers where every senator who used that desk carves their name. I just pulled out my drawer. One name jumped out. (Daniel) Inouye. WWII Medal of Honor. Senator for about 50 years. AAPI trailblazer. I cannot believe I get to sit at the desk of a hero of mine.”
Inouye, a Democrat representing Hawaii, served in the Senate from 1963 until his death in 2012. As president pro tem of the Senate, he was the highest-ranking Asian American politician in U.S. history until Kamala Harris was elected vice president.
Kim was elected on Nov. 5, defeating Republican Curtis Bashaw, 53.9% to 44% or 1,561,944 to 1,274,048. Four third-party candidates also ran.
Gov. Phil Murphy appointed Kim to serve the rest of Democrat George Helmy’s term, allowing Kim to take office early. Helmy had been serving on an interim basis since September to replace Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez.
During the next session of Congress, Republicans will hold the majority in the Senate, 53 to 47, having gained four seats while Democrats lost four seats.
Kim announced his candidacy in September 2023 after Menendez was indicted on federal bribery charges. He pledged to restore trust and integrity in government, and his popularity was boosted by an AP photo of him sweeping up the Capitol after the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection.
Kim initially ran against Tammy Murphy, the governor’s wife, but she later withdrew from the race. In the June primary, he defeated two fellow Democrats, Larry Hamm, a civil rights leader, and Patricia Campos-Medina, a labor activist.
First elected to the House in 2018, Kim most recently served on the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Committee on Armed Services, and Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party. He is also an Executive Board member of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.
Kim posted these thoughts after casting his final vote in the House on Dec. 6: “As I walk out of the chamber for the last time, I wanted to share something almost no one notices. The center aisle, the one the president walks down for SOTU (State of the Union), the aisle that divides the R and D sides, ends at an inscription of ‘Tolerance.’
“It caught my eye the very first time I stepped into the House chamber when first elected. There is a desk in front of it so you can’t see it on TV. I thought it was a curious choice for such a central location. I’ve thought about it for a long time. Why ‘tolerance’? Tolerance isn’t a particularly inspiring word. In fact it can sound a bit negative. Tolerating noise or bad behavior, etc. That’s why political leaders often use ‘unity.’ Why isn’t the word ‘unity’ inscribed in this central location?
“Our most famous motto is ‘E Pluribus Unum.’ It’s inscribed on the ceiling of the Capitol dome. I’ve come to believe tolerance is a critical part of how the ‘many’ become ‘one.’ Tolerance shows a path towards togetherness while still recognizing the challenges of differences.
“It is not that we perfectly blend in a melting pot or assimilate to some singular sense of being American. Tolerance inherently recognizes that differences exist, unity does not. Sometimes the word unity gives the impression of like-mindedness, agreement and complete harmony.
“I’ve come to like that there’s a grittiness to tolerance. It sets expectations grounded in the reality of plurality. It accepts as a fundamental fact that not everything can be fully agreed upon. That persuasion alone won’t solve our problems.
“Tolerance exists in the space between unity and disunity. It embraces the idea that our belief in freedom is more important than our disagreement or discomfort in how someone else lives their life.
“Tolerance rejects the notion that we are enemies. It means respect for one another despite differences. It rejects separation and segregation and instead embraces co-existence.
“Tolerance is not weakness. It does not mean compromising one’s values nor turning blind eyes to hate. JFK said, ‘Tolerance implies no lack of commitment to one’s own beliefs. Rather it condemns the oppression or persecution of others.’
“Now societal implementation of tolerance isn’t easy. How do we forge a tolerance that flows in all directions? I don’t claim to have all the answers. But I do think that there’s value in the concept and that it should be thought with similar rigor as we do towards unity.
“Now I walk to the other side of the Capitol, to the Senate. I look forward to exploring symbols there. But I take note that the Senate center doors that I enter draw a perfect straight line across the Capitol to the center aisle of the House, and this inscription of ‘Tolerance.’”