Dem's Historic NJ-3 Win Fueled by Property Tax Deductibility Cut

The victory of Democrat Andy Kim in New Jersey's 3^rd District (Burlington-Ocean Counties) was historic for more than one reason.

"The tax cut vote was extremely unpopular in New Jersey because of the elimination of the real estate tax deduction," David Norcross, former Republican National Committeeman from New Jersey, told Newsmax shortly after Kim claimed victory.

"Burlington was the key for Kim," added Norcross, who grew up in Burlington County.

Kim, a former National Security Council staffer under Barack Obama, led two-term Rep. Tom MacArthur, R-N.J., by 2,600 votes out of about 295,000 cast election night.

By Wednesday afternoon, absentee ballots had helped his lead mushroom to 3,427 votes and convinced MacArthur to concede.

Kim, 36, becomes only the second Democrat to win the sprawling 3^rd District since 1956. In addition, he is only the second Korean-American to serve in Congress. (The first, Republican Jay Kim, represented an Orange County, California, district from 1992-98.)

John Gizzi is chief political columnist and White House correspondent for Newsmax. For more of his reports, Go Here Now.