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Democrat Andy Kim Declared Winner In New Jersey's 3rd Congressional District Race Over Republican Tom MacArthur

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TRENTON, N.J. (CBS/AP) — Democratic former national security aide to Barack Obama Andy Kim has defeated two-term Republican incumbent Rep. Tom MacArthur in New Jersey's 3rd District.

Kim upset MacArthur in the hotly contested southern New Jersey district, widening the Democrats' edge in the House.

"With the vast majority of the votes now in and counted and based on the numbers we saw in Burlington County today, we have built a substantial lead," Kim said last week when he declared victory. "I am proud to announce that we have won this hard-fought race."

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The U.S. House historian's database shows he's the first Asian-American elected from New Jersey. Kim has never run for or served in elected office before.

The Associated Press called the race Wednesday.

The district last elected a Democrat in 2008.

MacArthur was an ally of the president's but stressed his independence as well.

He was the only New Jersey congressmen to vote for the 2017 tax overhaul and backed repeal of the Affordable Care Act.

MacArthur released this statement congratulating Kim:

"Tonight, I called Congressman-Elect Andy Kim to congratulate him on his victory. Enough provisional ballots have been counted to make the outcome clear. My staff and I will work with him to ensure a smooth transition in every way. It has been an honor to represent the people of Ocean and Burlington counties over the last four years, and I am proud to have done so with honesty and integrity. My wife Debbie and I have been truly blessed in life, and our commitment to helping others has never been defined by politics or elected office. I am also a firm believer that good can come out of life's disappointments and I look forward to what the future holds for us. Thank you to all of those who supported me and even those who did not. We must all work together to ensure that America remains the shining city on a hill that President Reagan described so many years ago."

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New Jersey will have just one Republican out of 12 seats in the next Congress.

(© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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