Sen. Andy Kim, the first Korean American senator from New Jersey, discovered that he was sitting at a desk once used by Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, a Japanese American trailblazer who was the first of his ancestry to be elected to Congress. Inouye, who served in the army during World War II and became Hawaii’s first congressman after statehood, was known for his long career in the Senate, during which he was awarded both the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Medal of Honor. Kim expressed his admiration for Inouye and his pride in sitting at the desk of a hero. Inouye holds the record as the second-longest serving senator and had Hawaii’s largest airport named after him in 2017. Asian Americans are the fastest-growing racial group in New Jersey, with their voter numbers rising significantly in recent years. Kim previously represented New Jersey’s 3rd Congressional District before winning the Senate seat and defeating Republican Curtis Bashaw. This moment was significant for Kim as an Asian American senator, and he expressed gratitude for the opportunity to sit at a desk with such historical significance.
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Sen. Andy Kim of New Jersey unveils unexpected find in Senate desk
