Sen. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) is backing Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.) in the Democratic primary to replace retiring Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.), making Kim the latest Democratic senator to back the congresswoman.
“In a time when Democracy is under attack and working families are being squeezed from all sides, we need bold, principled leaders who won’t back down from a fight,” Kim said in a statement shared through Craig’s campaign, which was first shared with The Hill.
“I’m proud to endorse Angie Craig,” he continued. “Angie’s commitment to fighting for the middle class by lowering costs and standing up to the status quo to fix a broken Washington is exactly what the Senate needs right now.”
Craig in her own statement said she was “grateful” to have his backing.
“Senator Kim is a good friend and understands the kind of hard work it takes to stand up to Washington’s corruption,” she said.
Craig and Kim both started in the House in 2019, though Kim now serves in the Senate after winning former Sen. Bob Menendez’s (I) seat in November. Kim is the latest senator to back Craig; Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), who also won his Senate seat last year, is endorsing the Minnesota Democrat, too.
Several other Democrats are running for the Democratic nod for Smith’s seat: Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, who’s received endorsements from state Attorney General Keith Ellison and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Democratic candidate Billy Nord.
A handful of Republicans are also running for the seat, including Senate candidates Royce White and Mike Ruoho in addition to retired Navy SEAL Adam Schwarze.
The nonpartisan election handicapper Cook Political Report rates Smith’s seat “lean Democrat.”
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