The weekend before Election Day, U.S. Senate candidate Andy Kim is shutting down rumors that he’s taking sides in Democratic primaries in big and small races across the state.
“We want to be clear that Representative Kim has not endorsed in any competitive primary for the June election,” his campaign said in a social media post on Saturday. “Any insinuation otherwise is incorrect and should be dismissed. The Congressman looks forward to working with Dems to win in November.”
The statement came after some Democratic candidates tied themselves to Kim in a way that created local confusion.
On Friday, one of Kim’s opponents in the Democratic primary, Patricia Campos-Medina, slammed Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla for linking himself to Kim as part of his challenge to Rep. Rob Menendez (D-Jersey City) in New Jersey’s 8th district.
“Ravi Bhalla can’t make up his mind. In 2022, he endorsed (Rob Menendez). Now he runs against him,’ Campos-Medina said on social media. “He says he’s running with (Campos Medina) when he needed a line but now he backs Andy Kim. Says he supports Latinas but gets rid of a Latina assemblywoman. Can’t trust him.”
Menendez, the son of indicted U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, has not endorsed anyone in the Democratic primary for his father’s seat. Senator Menendez is expected to file nominating petitions to run as an independent in advance of Tuesday’s filing deadline.
Still, Kim has not endorsed anyone in that race.
Kim’s declaration also means he’s not endorsing in the Democratic primary for his own seat in the 3rd district.