New Jersey Governor Appoints Former Aide as Caretaker of Bob Menendez’s Senate Seat

Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) departs Manhattan Federal Court in New York City on May 14, 2024. Alex Kent/AFP via Getty Images

Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), who is stepping down later this month, will be replaced by a longtime aide to New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy.

Murphy, a Democrat, has named his former chief of staff George Helmy as Menendez’s interim successor. Helmy served under Murphy for five years, making him the longest-serving gubernatorial chief of staff in the state’s history.

“George is the ideal leader to take on this role—and he has more relevant experience under his belt than perhaps anybody in New Jersey,” Murphy said Aug. 16 in a speech announcing the decision.

Helmy is currently an executive at RWJ Barnabas Health, the Garden State’s largest health care system. Prior to joining the Murphy administration, he served as an aide to Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and before that, the late Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.).

“In other words, George understands, on a fundamental level, how a U.S. Senate office operates,” Murphy said. “He will be ready to run this office from day one. And he will bring to this office first-hand expertise in providing the best possible constituent service to our state’s families.”

Helmy’s caretaker role will only last for a few months. He is expected to begin serving when the Senate is back in session in September, with a newly elected senator set to take over when the term expires on Jan. 3, 2025.

The race for Menendez’s seat started out as a contentious one, with Rep. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) early on facing a Democratic primary challenge from the governor’s wife, Tammy Murphy. But in the face of mounting allegations of nepotism, the New Jersey first lady dropped out of the race in March.

Kim will face off against Curtis Bashaw, a hotel developer and political newcomer who won the New Jersey Republican nomination over Christine Serrano Glassner, the wife of former Trump advisor Michael Glassner. What awaits Bashaw in November could be an uphill battle, as no Republican has represented New Jersey in the Senate since 1972.

Menendez, meanwhile, remains on the ballot as an independent candidate. He has not commented on his future political plans.

A three-term Democrat who once chaired the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Menendez was found guilty in July on a total of 16 charges related to accepting bribes, including gold bars, a Mercedes-Benz, and payments on a home mortgage, in exchange for helping foreign governments.

Following the verdict, he immediately vowed to appeal his conviction.

“While I fully intend to appeal the jury’s verdict, all the way and including to the Supreme Court, I do not want the Senate to be involved in a lengthy process that will detract from its important work,” Menendez said in his resignation letter. “Furthermore, I cannot preserve my rights upon a successful appeal, because factual matters before the ethics committee are not privileged.”

His resignation from the Senate is effective Aug. 20.