New Jersey governor names Sen. Bob Menendez's replacement
NEWARK, N.J. -- New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has appointed George Samir Helmy to replace Sen. Bob Menendez, who is stepping down next week after being convicted on federal bribery charges.
Helmy, the governor's former chief of staff, will serve as interim senator until the November election to fill the seat.
Click here to watch the full press conference announcing the appointment.
Who is George Samir Helmy?
Helmy served under Murphy for four and a half years, making him the longest serving gubernatorial chief of staff in state history. Prior to that, Helmy was a member of Sen. Cory Booker's senior staff.
Helmy grew up in Jersey City and went to Rutgers University before getting his Master's degree from Harvard University. After leaving the governor's office, he became an executive at RWJ Barnabas Health.
By appointing Helmy -- instead of one of the candidates vying for Menendez's seat -- Murphy avoids the appearance of influencing the upcoming November election.
"This approach will allow the democratically chosen winner of this year's election to embark on the smoothest possible transition," the governor said at Friday's announcement.
What happens next with Sen. Bob Menendez's seat
Menendez has said he will officially resign from his seat next Tuesday, August 20. His term expires on Jan. 3, 2025.
Helmy will begin serving as his replacement when the Senate is back in session in September. Then, a newly elected senator -- the winner of the race between Democrat Andy Kim and Republican Curtis Bashaw -- will take over the seat in January.
"Although I will only for serve a few months, I will do my very best to ensure that our work is about 'us' and not about 'I,'" Helmy said Friday. "Governor, I accept this appointment with great humility but an even greater sense of determination, and I'm eager to get back to work."
Menendez was convicted on federal bribery charges last month for accepting gold bars and cash in exchange for political favors. In his resignation letter, he said he intends to appeal the verdict, but he doesn't want "the Senate to be involved in a lengthy process that will detract from its important work."
New Jersey lawmakers react to Menendez's replacement
Booker, the state's other senator, called the decision to appoint Helmy a "wise and historic choice."
"From his dedicated years of service for Senator Lautenberg and his strong leadership as my state director, George knows how a Senator can be most effective for the people of New Jersey. Even more so, his experience as Governor Murphy's chief of staff makes him deeply knowledgeable about the diverse needs of our state," Booker said in a statement. "George is a leader who will undoubtedly make a difference in the lives of New Jerseyans as our Senator, even in this short period of time. I will be proud to serve alongside him. And I know he will make New Jerseyans proud through his service too."
Kim also praised the move on social media.
"Having led Senator Booker's state operations for a number of years, George Helmy knows how to navigate the Senate and can step in immediately to keep delivering services for our state. That's incredibly important experience with so many challenging issues facing our state and our nation," Kim posted. "I look forward to working with him in the Capitol."
On the other side of the aisle, Republican State Senate Leader Anthony Bucco said Helmy is a "trusted and well-respected leader."
"He's also a proven public servant who I consider a good friend and an even better man," Bucco said in a statement. "I applaud the Governor's decision to follow the tradition of appointing a placeholder and letting the voters have their say this November in a fair and honest election without tipping the scales in anyone's favor. New Jerseyans are in good hands with George in D.C."
