Democratic New Jersey state Sen. Jim Beach is not backing down from an intraparty fight with Sen. Andy Kim (D-NJ).
Beach hit back after Kim blasted him on Wednesday as a cog in the state’s Democratic machine. Kim announced that he would be “supporting challengers against State Senator James Beach and other elected officials who continue to fuel corrupt machine politics in NJ.”
Beach, the chairman of the Camden County Democratic Committee, told the New Jersey Globe after Kim’s announcement that he does plan on seeking reelection in 2027 and called Kim a “party boss.”
“Senator Kim is trying to become exactly what he says he is opposed to: a party boss. His announcement today makes it clear that going forward, he intends to make sure he selects the candidates and sets the agenda,” Beach said. “That is the definition of boss-ism.”
The recent sparring between the two lawmakers was sparked during a fiery Dec. 2 state Capitol hearing, during which Kim was forced to wait for four hours and testify last against a state bill that he said would weaken the power of the Office of the State Comptroller to hold state leaders accountable. Beach, who chaired the committee that held the hearing, was combative with Kim, asking him, “What makes you so special?”
“Last week’s shameful hearing and vote to gut anti-corruption efforts showed the need for more accountability. We halted the bill but need to keep our feet on the gas. We need leaders who represent the people, not powerful interests; and we need a grassroots army to build an anti-corruption movement,” Kim said in a statement on Wednesday.
Kim has repeatedly taken an anti-machine stance within the state’s Democratic Party. To take his seat in the Senate, Kim ran a campaign against the state’s Democratic machine and establishment-backed Tammy Murphy, Gov. Phil Murphy’s (D-NJ) wife. He stood in support of the New Jersey comptroller’s office as a measure to enforce accountability against corrupt actors in the state’s government.
New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin and acting state Comptroller Kevin Walsh, who each testified with Kim against the proposed state bill, have aimed at power brokers in Beach’s backyard of Camden County, where the state senator also serves as the head of the Democratic committee. Platkin announced a grand jury indictment of philanthropist and county Democratic power broker George Norcross in June 2024, though the charges were dismissed in February.
Beach said he is not afraid of a primary fight. Kim’s office did not respond to the Washington Examiner‘s requests for comment on Beach’s comments.
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“I look forward to asking whoever Senator Kim handpicks to run against me,” Beach said. “I will make sure they answer the questions Senator Kim won’t.”
Beach has served as the state senator for New Jersey’s 6th District since 2009. He has not faced a Democratic primary challenger in any of his elections since 2011, according to Ballotpedia.
