Andy Kim is ushering in a “new era” by becoming New Jersey’s first Asian American senator.

NBC News projects Democratic Rep. Andy Kim to win New Jersey’s U.S. Senate election, defeating Republican Curtis Bashaw after a historic campaign to fill former Sen. Bob Menendez’s seat.

The victory makes Kim the state’s first Asian American senator. In his first interview since his victory, Kim told NBC News he was still processing it all.

“I’m here with mom and dad. I’m here with my wife, two sons – three generations in one room,” said Kim, 42. “It’s very hard to wrap your head around, but I’m very proud of it.”

Kim won the race for the seat being vacated by former Sen. Bob Menendez. The longtime Democratic senator resigned in August after being convicted in July on charges of accepting bribes in exchange for official government action. Kim said he hopes voters will see him as “a man who is trying to usher in a new era of politics.”

“We live in a time of so much distrust in government, and I really think it’s deeply concerning and a threat to our society,” Kim said. “That’s a big reason why I decided to run for Senate the day after the senator was indicted, because I felt like we needed to change course.”

Kim added that there is a “thirst for a new, younger generation of leaders.”

Many New Jersey voters saw Kim’s campaign as an opportunity for a fresh start after Menendez’s nearly two decades in power. It’s also a reflection of the state’s changing demographics, with Asian Americans making up the fastest-growing racial group.

Number of Asian Americans in New Jersey almost doubled from 2000 to 2022. In many areas, the electorate has proven to be a critical voting bloc. In the state’s second most populous county, MiddlesexFor example, eligible Asian American voters make up nearly 38% of the electorate. In Bergen County, the most populous, they make up almost a quarter.

Kim, the son of Korean immigrants, grew up in South Jersey. He is now set to become the first Korean-American senator and said his victory would be a chance to listen Asian American voterswho often felt excluded from American politics. However, not everyone was receptive to having an Asian American like himself represent the state.

“Last year, when I first started running for Senate, someone literally told me to my face that I was ‘not the minority that could win the entire state,’” Kim said. “It was very disappointing.”

Kim, who currently represents New Jersey’s 3rd Congressional District, hopes to change that perception.

“I have as much right to represent the state as anyone else,” he said. “I’m just as American as anyone else.”

Kim’s campaign itself has already had a significant impact on state politics. In his first major victory, Kim filed a lawsuit in February challenging New Jersey’s unique ballot design known as the “county line.” In this case, candidates supported by the district party are grouped into a column.

At the same time, other candidates applying for the same positions find themselves on the sidelines. Kim, who insisted on grouping candidates by office, argued that district-based ballots unfairly benefited those favored by party leaders. In May, a U.S. district judge sided with Kim, banning the use of the old design.

As he prepares for his first term as senator, Kim says he hopes Asian Americans will step into public service.

“Don’t choose yourself,” Kim said. “If you want to run for office, if you want to serve, give it a shot. I hope people hear it.”