In the Democratic primary election for the 40th District State Assembly in New York State, incumbent Korean-American State Assemblyman Ron Kim emerged victorious over his opponents on the voting day of June 25th, securing his bid for reelection.
The Democratic primary in this district saw a competition among three Asian candidates – the incumbent State Assemblyman Ron Kim, as well as party challengers Andy Yi Chen and Yin Dao.
According to the vote count released by the New York City Board of Elections, with 97.56% of the votes counted, Ron Kim garnered 1621 votes, representing a 54% share, while his opponents Andy Yi Chen and Yin Dao received 1194 votes and 176 votes respectively, with vote shares of 40% and 6%. Ron Kim led Andy Yi Chen by 427 votes, with a 14-percentage point lead. Approximately three thousand Democratic voters cast their votes in the precinct.
Following his victory, Ron Kim entered the celebration venue amidst cheers from the crowd, expressing gratitude to his supporters individually. He described the election as highly competitive, thanked his opponents for their campaign efforts, and expressed joy at the response from the voters. He remarked that despite his opponents’ significant financial backing in the campaign, “voters still trust me because trust is earned, not bought.”
Ron Kim emphasized that the election was about trust – trust in who can represent them in Albany, who can safeguard their safety and interests, and who can provide solutions for New York.
He highlighted the significance of the middle class, stating, “When the middle class shrinks, everything fails; democracy fails, our economy fails. People no longer trust each other, people are no longer willing to help others in need because we are too scared. Therefore, we need to develop and strengthen the middle class. How do we do that? First and foremost, we must ensure everyone’s safety.”
Expressing gratitude towards his opponents, Ron Kim mentioned that their campaign efforts “kept me honest” and provided his team with the opportunity to organize and build, stating, “I don’t mind competition. Competition keeps me sharp. Competition drives me to ensure I represent the voice of every voter in my community.”
Born in South Korea, Ron Kim immigrated to the United States at a young age. He holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Baruch College, City University of New York. He has served as the State Assemblyman for the 40th District since 2013 and is also the Chairman of the State Assembly’s Aging Committee.
Ron Kim will go head-to-head in the general election this November against Chinese-American Republican Dr. Shaoquan Wang, a spine neurologist and rehabilitation physician with 24 years of practice in Flushing, and the founding president of the “NYC Hundred Elite Association.” As New York State is predominantly Democratic, winning the Democratic primary often paves the way for success in the general election.