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Andy Kim deserves a second term representing NJ’s 3rd District in Congress | Endorsement

The residents in the 3rd District deserve to be represented by a member of Congress who’s focused more on local and regional, rather than national, issues.

FILE - In this July 17, 2020 file photo, Rep. Andy Kim, D-N.J., speaks during a House Small Business Committee hearing on oversight of the Small Business Administration and Department of Treasury pandemic programs on Capitol Hill in Washington. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has decided to endorse 23 freshmen House Democrats in this fall’s elections. The move represents a gesture of bipartisanship by the nation's largest business organization, which has long leaned strongly toward Republicans. (Erin Scott/Pool via AP)
FILE - In this July 17, 2020 file photo, Rep. Andy Kim, D-N.J., speaks during a House Small Business Committee hearing on oversight of the Small Business Administration and Department of Treasury pandemic programs on Capitol Hill in Washington. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has decided to endorse 23 freshmen House Democrats in this fall’s elections. The move represents a gesture of bipartisanship by the nation's largest business organization, which has long leaned strongly toward Republicans. (Erin Scott/Pool via AP)Read moreErin Scott / AP

Voters in New Jersey’s 3rd Congressional District have a fine choice in U.S. Rep. Andy Kim, a hard-working Democrat who has proven himself worthy of a second term. Kim’s GOP opponent, the retired businessman David Richter, offers strong support for Trump as a centerpiece of his campaign. But even if the president is re-elected, residents in the 3rd District deserve to be represented by a member of Congress who’s focused more on local and regional, rather than national, issues. We endorse Kim.

Kim held foreign policy-related positions in the George W. Bush and Obama administrations. A 38-year-old father of two, he lives in Burlington Township, Burlington County — the bluer part of a district that extends from the Delaware River to the Atlantic. But Kim has held regular town halls throughout not only Burlington but also far more Republican Ocean County; that’s where Richter settled after searching for a district from which to run for Congress. Kim, who has shown an ability to work with colleagues across the aisle, has a bi-partisan streak and also serves on a special Congressional committee on the coronavirus, as well as on a committee focused on small businesses. Andy Kim is the right choice for the voters of this district.

About Inquirer Endorsements
Prior to each election, the Inquirer’s Editorial Board, which operates independently from the newsroom, identifies the races where an endorsement can help readers understand where candidates stand on issues and why we think voters should support (or not support) a particular candidate.
We think all elections are important and try to cover as many as we can. We research the candidates' backgrounds through the work of our newsroom colleagues, as well as through our own reporting. The Board also hosts meetings with candidates running in contended races, where we ask them about their stance on the issues we think are most important to their constituents. This year, we held virtual meetings with them on Zoom. The meetings are on the record.
We invite your comments on this process and our endorsements at opinion@inquirer.com. If you’d like your comments to be considered for our letters to the editor page, please include your address and phone number (not for publication) so we can verify your identity.