An influential chain of thirteen weekly print newspapers with a substantial readership in Essex, Morris, Somerset, and Hunterdon counties has endorsed Andy Kim for U.S. Senate and Kamala Harris for President.
In races for Congress, the New Jersey Hills Media Group newspaper chain is backing three incumbents: Republican Tom Kean., Jr. (R-Westfield) in the 7th, Democrat LaMonica McIver (D-Newark) in the 10th., and Democrat Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair) in the 11th.
The Bernardsville News, Chatham Courier, Echoes-Sentinel, Florham Park Eagle, Hanover Eagle, Madison Eagle, Morris News Bee, Hunterdon Review, Mount Olive Chronicle, Observer-Tribune, The Progress, Roxbury Register, and the West Morris Reporter are operated by the non-profit Corporation for New Jersey Local Media.
“It is hard to find a more striking contrast to ‘Gold Bar Bob’ Menendez than the squeaky-clean Kim, whose biggest moment in the national limelight was a photo that showed him on his knees sweeping up debris in the Capitol rotunda after the Jan. 6 invasion by supporters of former President Trump,” the editorial stated. “As a member of Congress, Kim was a mainstream Democrat and a reliable vote for President Biden’s agenda, including the Inflation Reduction Act and the American Rescue Plan. Just 42 years old, he is young enough to build seniority in the Senate to protect New Jersey’s interests in the years ahead. We urge the election of Andy Kim to the U.S. Senate.”
The newspapers praised Kim and his Republican opponent, Curtis Bashaw, for running a “respectful, issue-oriented campaign hat is refreshing in this era of extreme partisanship and a testimony to the integrity and decency of both candidates.
The chain of newspapers said Donald Trump has “taped into the legitimate economic fears of worries of many Americans, but he has also fanned the politics of racism, nativism and resentment more than any American leader since Alabama Gov. George Wallace.”
“We can trust Kamala Harris not to kill the patient,” the editorial stated. “We cannot say the same for Donald Trump.”
The decision to endorse was made by the executive editor without a full editorial board.