Development: Mount Laurel Democrats are pushing the Andy Kim for Senate pretty hard. It shows that Assemblywoman Carol Murphy (D-7) is definitely making a move on CD3, says a source.

A majority whip, Murphy has served in the legislature since 2018 and serves as vice chair of the Assembly Judiciary Committee.

Reminder, by way of context:

In a stunning development that underscores unsettled political terrain, U.S. Rep. Andy Kim (D-3) of Burlington County on Saturday announced that he plans to challenge indicted Senator Bob Menendez.

Ravaged on Friday by bribery and fraud charges, Menendez appears unable to summon critical establishment support for his 2024 reelection campaign.

Middlesex, Essex, Bergen and Passaic all want him gone.

That leaves a few other undecided pockets, starting with his home county of Hudson, but the incumbent U.S. senator has long run with the fully mustered backing of all Democratic Party organizations.

Now, with the hobbled and wounded Menendez assuming a battle-ready position and apparently locking and loading on a reelection bid this morning, Kim – in a throw down maneuver by a Democratic standing amid the ravages of South Jersey – released the following statement:

“After calls to resign, Senator Menendez said ‘I am not going anywhere.’ As a result, I feel compelled to run against him. This is not something I expected to do, but I believe New Jersey deserves better. We cannot jeopardize the Senate or compromise our country’s integrity. I believe it’s time we restore faith in our democracy, and that’s why I am stepping up and running for Senate.”

Kim was first elected to Congress in 2018 and is the first Asian American elected to federal office from New Jersey. In 2018 and 2020, he defeated two self-funding millionaires in a district carried by former President Trump, and in 2022 Kim defeated his third self-funding millionaire opponent by 12 points.