Murphy appoints former aide to replace Menendez in Senate

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has announced the appointment of George Helmy as interim senator following the resignation of Democrat Bob Menendez, who is stepping down after being convicted on federal bribery charges. Menendez, 70, was found guilty in July on 16 counts, including bribery and fraud. Helmy, a former chief of staff to Murphy, will serve until the winner of the upcoming election on November 5 is determined. Governor Murphy praised Helmy as a “proven public servant” with a deep understanding of Washington politics. He emphasized Helmy's integrity and commitment to restoring public trust in New Jersey's leadership. Helmy, who has held the chief of staff position from 2019 to 2023 and currently works at RWJ Barnabas Health, expressed his honor in serving the state and his intention to step down early to allow the newly elected senator to begin their work. In the upcoming election, Rep. Andy Kim has secured the Democratic nomination to run for Menendez’s seat against Republican Curtis Bashaw. Kim's path to nomination was eased when first lady Tammy Murphy withdrew from the race, avoiding a potentially contentious primary. The decision to appoint Helmy has been welcomed by Republican lawmakers, who had previously urged against appointing Kim to fill the remainder of Menendez’s term, highlighting Helmy's reputation as a respected leader.