The Toms River Democratic Committee, which has a huge block of votes at the Ocean County Democratic convention on Sunday, has endorsed Rep. Andy Kim (D-Moorestown) for U.S. Senate.
Kim represented a large part of Ocean County during his first four years in Congress before redistricting moved the heavily Republican county out of the 3rd district. He is the strong favorite to win the organization line there. Toms River is the second-largest municipality in Ocean County.
Ocean County uses secret ballots to conduct its convention votes. The Democratic county chairman, Wyatt Earp, has remained neutral in the Senate race.
“Congressman Andy Kim worked hard for the people of Toms River from the moment he got into office. Through his efforts, the township received millions in FEMA loan forgiveness, and our new VA Health Clinic will be opening soon,” said Toms River Democratic Municipal Vice Chair Laurie Huryk, a former councilwoman. “In addition to those big-ticket items, there are hundreds of events Congressman Kim has attended and spoken at. Whether it’s a small meeting or a festival in town, Andy shows up. He has been there for us and is considered a part of our community.”
While Ocean is a GOP stronghold, the total number of votes cast in the 2020 Democratic primary ranked 11th in the state, more than counties that are solidly Democratic, like Somerset and Passaic. Four years ago, Ocean County produced 43,469 votes, with 44% of Democrats turning in an all-VBM primary. In 2016, 36,887 Democrats voted in the primary election, with turnout at 49%.
Turnout among Ocean County Democrats in a presidential year – even if the nomination is clinched – is significantly higher.
As a point of comparison, Ocean turned out 15,938 Democrats in the 2021 primary, 17,513 in 2022, and 14,181 in 2023.
Huryk said that Kim gives her “hope for the future.”
“His integrity and unwavering values give me cause to believe that there are politicians out there willing to do the right thing for the people they represent,” she said.
Kim’s grassroots endorsements have come from the Township of Ocean Democratic Municipal Committee, Waretown (Township of Ocean) Democratic Club, Lacey Democratic Municipal Committee, Lacey Democratic Club, Stafford Democratic Municipal Committee, Democratic Club of Stafford Township, Barnegat Democratic Municipal Committee, Barnegat Democratic Club, Point Pleasant Beach Democratic Municipal Committee, Point Pleasant Beach Democratic Club, South Toms River Democratic Municipal Committee, South Toms River Democratic Club, Beachwood Democratic Club, Manchester Democratic Club, Democratic Coalition of Ocean County, and Surf City Democratic Municipal Committee.
Kim is also expected to get support in Brick, the third-largest town in Ocean County.
“I am so honored to have received Toms River’s endorsement, as I was fortunate to be able to represent them in Congress before redistricting, and worked with many of these members to achieve results like the new VA health clinic which will bring relief to so many veterans who need it,” Kim said.. “I’m excited to now take this energy and support to Ocean County’s convention on Sunday.”
Kim has won Democratic county conventions in Monmouth, Burlington, Hunterdon, Sussex, and Warren counties. His main rival, First Lady Tammy Murphy, has won conventions in Bergen and Somerset and screening committees in Passaic and Union.