New Jersey Senate election live results: Kim vs. Bashaw

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In New Jersey, election officials are counting votes in the U.S. Senate race between Democratic U.S. Rep. Andy Kim and Republican Curtis Bashaw.

Candidates are vying to fill the vacant seat vacated by former Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez after his conviction on bribery charges.

Live election results for New Jersey's U.S. Senate seat

Who is the favorite to win?

According to the nonpartisan Cook Political Report, this Senate seat is a solid win for Democrat Kim. 538 also predicts Kim has a lead of over 21 percentage points over Bashaw.

Since 2000, Democrats have had an average lead of about 12 points in U.S. Senate elections in New Jersey. The last two New Jersey Republicans to serve in the U.S. Senate were both appointed to the position and each served only a few months. New Jersey's last elected Republican senator left office in 1979.

Who is Rep. Andy Kim?

Kim is a three-term congressman from the 3rd District, representing parts of Burlington, Mercer and Monmouth counties.

Kim first won the House of Representatives in 2018, defeating Republican Rep. Tom MacArthur. He gained national attention after the Capitol insurrection on January 6, 2021, when he was photographed picking up trash inside the building.

He has made a name for himself through his work on health care reform, small business support and environmental initiatives.

Kim has criticized Bashaw for his support of former President Donald Trump and expressed skepticism about Bashaw's position as an abortion rights supporter.

Who is Curtis Bashaw?

Bashaw is a hotel developer and first-time candidate from Cape May, New Jersey.

He won a contested primary in June, defeating a Trump-backed opponent. Bashaw describes himself as a moderate and wants to win over independent voters and position himself as a fresh voice for change.

Bashaw tried to portray Kim as a Washington insider and criticized Democrats over their immigration policies. He said it was “a crisis in New Jersey” and was putting a strain on the state.

View all The 2024 election results for New Jersey can be found here And Follow the balance of power in the US Senate and the US House of Representatives here.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.