Andy Kim seeks to take down the Democratic machines in 2027

The New Jersey senator said he will be "stepping up" to take on elected officials who "fuel corrupt machine politics."

By Matt Friedman and Madison Fernandez
12/10/2025 02:22 PM EST


Sen. Andy Kim is declaring war on New Jersey’s Democratic bosses, announcing in a video Wednesday that he plans to recruit challengers to elected officials who protect “machine politics.”

Kim, a Democrat whose renegade 2024 Senate campaign destroyed the “county line” ballot structure that helped power brokers from both parties concentrate power, plans to start with Democratic state Sen. Jim Beach. He chaired a committee last week that forced Kim to wait hours to testify against a bill stripping power from the Office of the State Comptroller, which has aggressively investigated people and companies with ties to some of New Jersey’s most powerful Democrats.

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The video is the latest volley in the internal battle that has gripped New Jersey’s Democratic Party for years, pitting power brokers against its progressive base. Progressives had long struggled, but broke through with then-Rep. Kim’s 2024 primary victory over the Democratic establishment-backed first lady Tammy Murphy to replace disgraced Sen. Bob Menendez, who had become emblematic of the Democratic machine system. Murphy, who was counting heavily on the county line, dropped out of the race just days before a Kim campaign lawsuit overturned it for that year’s Democratic primary.

Kim also notched a victory Tuesday when state Senate President Nick Scutari ended his lame duck push for the bill to strip power from the Comptroller’s Office.
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/12/10/kim-seeks-to-topple-the-democratic-machines-in-2027-00685007

Kim will lead effort to oust Jim Beach; fires warning shot at some Democratic legislators
U.S. Senator preparing to oppose re-election of Democrats who oppose anti-corruption laws: ‘I’m going to be stepping up’

By David Wildstein, December 10 2025 11:50 am

In a bold declaration that he’s prepared to take on feckless state lawmakers who follow the orders of party bosses, U.S. Senator Andy Kim will support a challenge to State Sen. Jim Beach (D-Voorhees) in the Democratic primary in 2027 and will help recruit primary opponents to run against other incumbent lawmakers he views as impediments to anti-corruption measures.

“I’m going to be stepping up to get involved across this state and make sure we’re taking on elected officials who have been standing up and protecting the machine politics — standing against what we’re trying to do to fight corruption, and that needs to end,” Kim said in a video he released this morning.
https://newjerseyglobe.com/legislature/kim-will-lead-effort-to-oust-jim-beach-fires-warning-shot-at-some-democratic-legislators/

On edit:
Brad Lander will run for Congress, setting up progressive clash with Dan Goldman

By Elizabeth Kim
Published Dec 10, 2025
Brad Lander, the outgoing New York City comptroller and a major player in progressive politics, announced Wednesday he would run for Congress, challenging moderate pro-Israel Democrat Dan Goldman for a district that includes Lower Manhattan and northwest Brooklyn.

Progressives are hoping to build on the momentum of democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani’s stunning victory in the mayoral election across several races in 2026. It remains to be seen if Mamdani’s win portends a more significant swing to the left for Democrats.

“Our mayor can have an ally in Washington instead of an adversary in his own backyard,” Lander said in a video, which referred to Goldman’s pro-Israel position as well as his wealth. “While the oligarchy drives the affordability crisis, they shouldn’t be able to buy a seat in Congress.”
https://gothamist.com/news/brad-lander-will-run-for-congress-setting-up-progressive-clash-with-dan-goldman




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