NEWARK, NJ — New Jersey voters today will elect a new U.S. senator for the first time in more than a decade.
Rep. Andy Kim, a Democrat, and Republican businessman Curtis Bashaw are being closely watched race to replace convicted Sen. Bob Menendez.
Democrats view the New Jersey Senate race as key to retaining control of the Senate, as registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by about a million. The state hasn’t elected a Republican to the Senate since 1972.
Polls are closing in New Jersey at 8 p.m.
Kim wants to restore trust after the Menendez scandal
Kim, a three-term congressman, said he is running to restore integrity and trust in the government Menendez resigned in response to a bribery scandal.
“Eighty-four percent of people surveyed in New Jersey believe their politicians are corrupt. That is what contributes to the undermining of our democracy and the concerns that so many of us have,” Kim said at his polling station in Moorestown.
Kim, a national security adviser in the Obama administration, praised Democrats’ achievements 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 we’ve done to reduce prescription drug costs, like I said, by capping insulin costs at $35 a month… We’re seeing an unprecedented level of attacks right now facing the LGBTQ community is facing, and many of those attacks are coming from colleagues of mine in Congress, Republicans,” Kim told CBS News New York.
Kim would be New Jersey’s first Asian American senator if Democrats retain the seat.
Bashaw wants to end the ‘one-party monopoly’
Bashaw won the Republican primary by campaigning to end a “one-party monopoly” in New Jersey.
“New Jerseyans are ready for change and there is something happening in the electorate that is just exciting,” Bashaw said. “People are crossing the ballot. There are people who are voting for Kamala Harris and very openly saying, ‘I’m voting for you.'”
Bashaw’s platform includes securing the U.S.-Mexico border and the economy. He supports abortion rights and said he would vote for federal legislation that would protect women’s right to choose.
“I am a gay married man, I am pro-choice… I don’t think we can outsource our way to prosperity. I don’t think we can regulate our way to success. I believe we should unleash our businesses” , Bashaw told CBS News New York.
Bashaw would become the Garden State’s first openly gay senator if the seat goes to the Republican Party.
There are 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 electionsafter Menendez resigned in August.
Jesse Zanger contributed to this report.
Christine Sloan
