Wins by Trump, Kim, Kean, Pallone ripple across NJ

On Tuesday, President-elect Donald J. Trump, became the first president since former President Grover Cleveland to be elected to a second non-consecutive term. As of Wednesday evening, Trump's electoral tally stands at 295 votes to Vice President Kamala Harris's 226, in addition to a commanding lead in the popular vote. 

While polling predicted a close race, Trump flipped four states that voted for President Joseph R. Biden Jr. (D) in 2020: Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, and was on pace to win two other "swing states" — Nevada and Arizona, according to the Associated Press's count. 

Trump is the first convicted felon and oldest person to be elected president. His running mate, U.S. Sen. and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), 40, will be the youngest Vice President since former President Richard M. Nixon took office in 1953 as former President Dwight D. Eisenhower's Vice President. 

While Harris won New Jersey's electoral votes, Trump significantly improved upon his 2020 performance in the state, losing by 5 percent compared to 15.9 percent last election. Democratic presidential candidates have won the state by double-digit margins since 2008.

While Republicans regained control of the U.S. Senate overall, Rep. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) cruised to victory over his opponent, Curtis Bashaw (R-N.J.), winning 53.1 percent of the vote compared to Bashaw's 44.5 percent. 

Kim, who has served as a congressman for New Jersey's 3rd Congressional District since 2018, declared his bid for Senate in 2023 after former Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) was indicted on bribery charges. After First Lady of New Jersey Tammy Murphy dropped out of the race, Kim won the Democratic nomination easily.

Polling indicated that Kim would win the traditionally Democratic seat. At 42 years old, Kim will be the first Korean-American U.S. Senator and one of its youngest members, according to The New York Times. Interim Sen. George Helmy (D-N.J.) is expected to resign by the end of November, at which point Kim will be sworn into the seat, as per a press release from Gov. Phil Murphy (D-N.J.).

While most House races in New Jersey were not expected to be close, polling indicated New Jersey's 7th Congressional District would be its most competitive. Despite this, incumbent Rep. Tom Kean, Jr. (R-7) beat his challenger, activist Sue Altman, by nearly 7 percent. 

Despite an independent challenge from Fahad Akhtar, a University alum, Rep. Frank Pallone (D-6) handily won re-election and will continue to serve New Jersey's 6th Congressional District, which houses Rutgers—New Brunswick.