Andy Kim: ‘I never intended to be a politician, but President Trump won…’

By Cristina DC Pastor

I first met Andy Kim in December when members of the FilAm media were invited to his Meet-and-Greet in Summit, New Jersey. I saw a refreshing persona. A politician who did not have an inflated ego,  did not peddle lies, and was not full of antics like some senators and congressmen we always read about in the news.

He introduced himself as the son of Korean immigrants who rose from humble origins to become a diplomat and now a politician. He was elected representative of New Jersey’s 3rd congressional district in 2018 and was reelected in 2020. He said Donald Trump’s election as president in 2016 made him turn to politics. “I felt like I had to do something more.”

In 2023, he announced he was running for the seat held by Robert Menendez who was being investigated for accepting bribes of cash and gold bars. He handily won the Democratic primary.

He joked he wasn’t really aware of the Menendez indictment until photos of gold bars started showing up on his phone!

In the following exclusive interview, we find out more about Kim who can possibly be the first Korean American senator.

The FilAm (TF): Honestly, how do you feel about a second Trump presidency and the potential for authoritarianism? Is that worrisome to you?

Andy Kim (AK): I worry about the country my two young boys will grow up in if Trump is re-elected. I  am the son of immigrants who moved from Asia to America 50 years ago. The America that inspired them to come here is being threatened. I first ran in 2018, because I was so appalled by what Trump and Republican allies were doing to strip away healthcare and freedoms – I feel the same sense of urgency now. I have been saying that the next four-to-five years will define the next four-to-five decades for our country.

TF: How do you feel about President Biden stepping aside, and does Kamala Harris have what it takes to take down Trump?

AK: President Biden has been one of the most consequential and effective presidents in modern history, and I commend his decision to step aside. I also admire that he put our country first and chose to pass the torch to a new generation of leadership. To that end, I am so excited about Vice President Kamala Harris and fully support her candidacy. As a former prosecutor and Attorney General, Vice President Harris has the experience to bring the case against Donald Trump and will continue the fight for reproductive freedom, voting rights, and protecting our democracy.

TF: What are your thoughts on abortion, an issue that may impact the Filipino American Catholic vote?

AK: Our country is founded on a sacred freedom that protects our speech, our religion, and other fundamental aspects of our lives. This is how such a large and diverse nation has been able to thrive. While 330 million people will always have real disagreements, it’s important to safeguard that personal freedom. Our ability to make our own decisions about our families is not a place that the Supreme Court or state legislatures should be regulating. We should empower women and their doctors to make decisions related to their health. 

TF: Why can’t the government find a solution to the border issue? Why does it seem like a difficult and unsolvable issue?

AK: Immigration has been a difficult issue because it’s become a political issue. Donald Trump and Republicans like Curtis Bashaw (his GOP opponent)  don’t have real solutions, but they do want to raise fears to score political points. We can and should come together to solve these issues. We need to make sure our border is secure; we can do that by investing in smart border security and making sure we have the resources necessary to get the job done. But we also need to fix a system that leaves too many in limbo who are trying to become American citizens the right way. We need to create better pathways to citizenship, especially for our Dreamers. We should come together and work across the aisle to find solutions, but not until people like Donald Trump stop politicizing it. 

TF: The Supreme Court, which used to be ‘above the fray,’ is now just as corrupt and notorious as the two houses of Congress. Do you support moves to have Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito impeached? 

AK: Right now, there is a crisis of confidence in the Supreme Court. Between the ethics controversies and the ease with which the Court has overturned decades of precedent, people are rightfully feeling as if the Court is out of touch and is acting in pursuit of an ideological agenda, not the American people. I believe there should be investigations into all ethics controversies, but at this point, we must take bold action to restore  integrity to the Supreme Court. This is why I support implementing a stricter code of standards for all federal judges, and imposing term limits. The rule of law in our country is sacred, and I am committed to restoring trust and confidence in the court. I also introduced a bill in Congress that would ban all Members of Congress, Senators, senior level officials in the Executive Branch, including the President and VP, as well as Supreme Court Justices from trading and owning individual stocks. I believe we can decrease the distrust people have in our government if we can be transparent and accountable to the American people.

TF: Any thoughts on the political downfall of Senator Menendez?

AK: The conviction of Senator Menendez serves as a reminder that no one is above the law, regardless of how powerful or well-connected you are, and that as public servants we must never lose sight of whom we work for. I am excited to usher in a new era of leadership in New Jersey that is focused on service and making New Jersey a better place for our kids. 

TF: “84% of people in New Jersey believe that their politicians are corrupt” is a statement attributed to you. I don’t see you as one of them, but why do you stay in this space called “Politics”. There’s got to be other ways to bring about change.

AK: I never intended to be a politician; I am a career public servant who worked in national security. But, when President Trump won in 2016, I was a new dad, and I felt like I had to do something more. Politics was the avenue I felt I could best use to give back to my community, and I was proud to step up and win against the Republican incumbent in my home district in 2018. In recent years, politics has become a space of negativity. But I believe that at its best, politics is a way we can come together on both sides to try to solve tough problems and make the country better. As the son of immigrants and married to an immigrant, I know that America still represents a “better tomorrow” to so many people around the world, and I feel like working in politics allows me to protect that sense and make sure all people have the opportunity to succeed. While so much of our politics can feel demoralizing, I still find optimism in our politics for what tomorrow can hold, and I think that’s why I entered and continue to stay in politics.

(C) The FilAm 2024