High hopes for Korean American politicians as U.S. election approaches

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High hopes for Korean American politicians as U.S. election approaches

Published: 04 Nov. 2024, 12:02

Korean American Rep. Andy Kim speaking during an interview with Yonhap News Agency in Washington on May 26. [YONHAP]

With the U.S. election taking place on Tuesday, expectations remained high for high-profile Korean American politicians, including a congressman who has led a formidable campaign to become the first Korean American, to join the Senate.

Rep. Andy Kim, a third-term representative of a New Jersey district, has been at the center of the Korean American community's attention as the Democrat has been regarded as a powerful Senate candidate to represent the Garden State that has not elected a Republican as its senator since 1972.

If elected in Tuesday's vote, Kim will make history by becoming the first senator of Korean descent. With his extensive foreign policy portfolio, Kim has vowed to play a role as a "bridge" between South Korea and the United States and further support the bilateral alliance.

The New Jersey senate seat has been up for grabs as former Sen. Bob Menendez resigned in August after he was convicted of bribery charges. Kim has been competing against his Republican rival, Curtis Bashaw, while observers viewed Kim as having fared much better in television debates.

Unlike a House representative, a senator would have a greater voice in America's foreign and security policy as he or she has a vote on every single ambassador position and confirms Cabinet posts and military generals among various Senate roles.

"I hope I can be someone that can be a bridge between the U.S. and South Korea, someone that can try to show how beneficial that relationship is to both countries," Kim said in response to a question from Yonhap News Agency during a public event in Washington in September. "It's really a win-win."

Kim boasts a prominent foreign policy career, having served at the White House National Security Council, the Pentagon, the State Department, the U.S. Agency for International Development and as a civilian adviser to Gen. David Petraeus and Gen. John Allen in Afghanistan.

Rep. Young Kim speaking during a visit to South Korea's unification ministry in Seoul on March 25. [YONHAP]

There are three Korean American congresswomen seeking a third-term at the House of Representatives. They are Reps. Young Kim (R-CA), Michelle Park Steel (R-CA) and Marilyn Strickland (D-WA).

According to The Hill, a U.S. news outlet, Kim of California District 40 and Strickland of Washington District 10 are expected to prevail in their congressional races. Steel of California District 45 is in a tight race against her Democratic rival, Derek Tran.

Given that only Rep. Kim is a third-term Korean-American lawmaker on Capitol Hill, the three congresswomen, if re-elected, are expected to help raise the legislative profile of Korean Americans.

Rep. Marilyn Strickland speaking during an event celebrating Korean American Day in Washington on Jan. 11. [YONHAP]

Aside from the current lawmakers, Dave Min, a Korean American Democrat, is bidding to join the House in this election cycle. The Hill forecast showed him ahead of his Republican rival, Scott Baugh.

In the Nov. 5 election, 34 Senate seats and all 435 House seats are at stake.

Currently, Democrats hold a slight majority in the Senate, controlling 51 seats with the help of three independents that caucus with the Democrats while Republicans hold 49 seats. In the House, Republicans have a slim majority with 220 seats to Democrats' 212.

Observers anticipate that Republicans appear more likely to take control of the Senate by adding more seats, while it remains uncertain which party will gain a majority in the House.

The Senate has 100 members — two from each state. Senators have six year terms, with one third of the upper chamber up for re-election every two years.

The House has 435 members that have two-year terms. The number of each state's representatives is determined by population.

Yonhap