U.S. Rep. Young Kim, one of the first Korean-American women to serve in Congress, secured her spot in the November runoff election coming in first in the March 5 primary.
Ms. Kim leads with 57 percent of the vote followed by Democrat candidate Joe Kerr, a former Orange County fire captain for over 30 years, who has 25 percent of votes. Tustin School Board Member Allyson Damikolas, who works as an engineer in Southern California, trails in last place at 18 percent, as of March 11.
Ms. Kim serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee—where she is chairwoman of the Indo-Pacific Subcommittee and as a member of the Africa Subcommittee, among several other committees in finance, national security, and maternity. She has had nearly 30 bills pass with more than a dozen signed into law, according to her campaign website.
After votes are finalized, Ms. Kim will face Mr. Kerr Nov. 5 for District 40, which encompasses parts of Orange, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties.
“I’m so grateful for the overwhelming support from voters across California’s 40th District. Thank you for continuing to put your trust in me,” Ms. Kim told The Epoch Times in an emailed statement. “I believe in the promise of America because I’ve lived it, but the status quo in Washington is putting the American dream at risk. That’s why I am fighting every day to bring common sense, break through the partisan gridlock, and get things done. Team Young is just getting started.”
Mr. Kerr raised about $1.1 million in campaign donations, according to Federal Election Commission filings through Feb. 14, and according to a recent press release, he says he knocked on over 120,000 doors leading up to March 5, to help secure his spot in the November election.
“Thank you to the voters of the 40th District for selecting me as their Democratic nominee to take on extremist Young Kim. I will not let you down,” he said.
According to the press release, the district is “the fastest growing democratic trending district in California,” and has a “sizeable” amount of “swayable” moderate Republicans.
He said Ms. Kim was too extreme to represent the district.
“I look forward to the general election where we will share my message of service to the community, problem-solving, and results over extremism and political games, and where we will make clear that Young Kim’s extremist record is out-of-touch with the 40th district,” he said.
Election results will be updated every weekday at 5 p.m. until they are certified on or before April 2, according to the county registrar’s website.
