Rep. Andy Kim (D-Moorestown) has won his sixth county convention victory this afternoon, winning the endorsement of the Ocean County Democrats in his bid for a U.S. Senate seat.

Kim has represented parts of Ocean County for his first two terms in Congress, so a victory here was expected, with most municipal clubs endorsing him ahead of today’s vote.

Unlike many of his counterparts across the state, County Chairman Wyatt Earp remained neutral ahead of the secret ballot, which went 197-31 in Kim’s favor.

“I am so thankful to everyone who showed up today and to Chairman Wyatt Earp for running a convention that let the delegates vote their conscience with secret ballots and free from machine politics pressure,” Rep. Kim said in a statement after the results were announced.

“Ocean County Democrats know the challenges of going up against Republicans and know that I would be by far the strongest general election candidate for the Democrats that can help lift up candidates in tough races up and down the ballot and across the state,” he added.

Although Ocean County is home to more Republicans than any other county and has not elected Democrats on a county level, there are nearly 100,000 registered Democrats, or approximately 4% of the total number of registered Democrats in the state.

At the Republican convention several weeks ago, U.S. Senate candidate Curtis Bashaw, won the Republican endorsement.

The primary will be held June 4th.