Andy Kim takes the oath of office to be New Jersey’s junior senator and the first Korean American senator in U.S. history
“I’ll be honest, I had trouble going to sleep last night,” Kim said Monday. “It’s such a surreal moment for me and my family and I’m excited to get to work.”
Andy Kim took the oath of office Monday to become the junior senator from New Jersey and the first Korean American senator in U.S. history.
Kim, a Democrat from South Jersey who has represented the Third Congressional District since 2019, was elected in November to fill the seat previously held by former Sen. Bob Menendez, who resigned after 18 years in office following a bribery conviction in July.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy had appointed his former adviser George Helmy to hold the seat until voters elected their representative. Helmy resigned last week to allow Kim to be installed and sworn before the new Congress is seated.
The arrangement makes for a unique entry into the chamber. He will serve about two weeks at the end of this session, in which Democrats have the majority. Then on Jan. 3, he’ll put his hand on a Bible again to be sworn in to join the new Congress, in which Republicans will have control.
Kim was sworn in along with fellow Democrat and newly elected California Sen. Adam Schiff, who is filling the seat previously held by longtime Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who died last year. Laphonza Butler had served as California’s senator temporarily.
Kim walked into the chamber with the New Jersey’s senior senator, Democrat Cory Booker, who stood beside him as Vice President Kamala Harris read the oath.
“Congratulations Senators,” Harris said to rousing applause in the chamber afterward.
After the brief ceremony, Booker fastened a Senate pin to Kim’s lapel as Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D., Minn.) and several others walked over to congratulate him on the floor.
On Monday, Kim reflected on the history-making moment before him.
“I’ll be honest, I had trouble going to sleep last night,” Kim said in a phone call from his office. “It’s such a surreal moment for me and my family, and I’m excited to get to work.”
There are tangible advantages to getting sworn in early. Senators-elect can hire a maximum of two transition staff until they are sworn in as official members. Kim’s early oath allows him to immediately hire 30 people to take over constituent services and offices in Jersey City and South Jersey.
“I think there’s been certainly a crisis of confidence and trust that we’ve seen,” Kim said. “It’s important for the people of New Jersey to feel that democracy has worked and that there’s a sense of restoration that is occurring.”
Kim’s wife, Kammy Lai, and two sons, Austin and August Lai watched him take the oath. His parents, who emigrated from South Korea 50 years ago, were unable to attend Monday but plan to be at the Jan. 3 ceremony when Kim is sworn in with dozens of colleagues.
“I didn’t want to create a big production; it’s not really my style,” Kim said.
A few days ago, realizing that he needed a Bible, Kim went to the National Cathedral and asked whether they had some for sale. He picked out a leather-bound edition that he hopes to reuse throughout his political career.
“I was talking to Sen. Booker, and he said I should get one for the occasion,” Kim said. “Something I can pass down to my kids, keep in the family, the Bible that I used to be sworn in for the first time.”