Andy Kim wins Democratic Senate nomination in New Jersey: AP

Democratic Senate hopeful Andy Kim won his party's nomination on Tuesday night to represent New Jersey in the United States Senate, setting up a challenge between Kim and embattled Sen. Bob Menendez, who filed for reelection as an independent.

Kim, who has served three terms in the House, was the favorite to win the nomination after New Jersey first lady Tammy Murphy withdrew her bid for the seat over allegations of nepotism.

The congressman will still need to defeat Menendez, who has faced heavy backlash over allegations that he and his wife accepted bribes to benefit foreign governments in countries such as Egypt and Qatar, while he was chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. 

"Just saw the news. Thank you for this incredible win! What we achieved over the last 8 months is remarkable," Kim said in a post to X. "We built a stunningly powerful grassroots movement that took down the unfair ballot line and changed NJ politics forever. Now we are ready to take our movement for change to the US Senate!"

Kim is expected to win the seat in November, despite Menendez's bid for reelection. The seat is considered solid blue, and the state has not elected a Republican to the Senate since 1972, according to CNN. Kim was the first Asian American elected to the Senate from New Jersey. He is the son of Korean immigrants.