New Jersey Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy intends to appoint his former chief of staff, George Helmy, to fill the Senate seat that Sen. Bob Menendez will vacate next week, multiple New Jersey media outlets reported Wednesday evening, citing sources.
Helmy, who has most recently worked as executive vice president and head of external affairs for RWJBarnabas Health, will serve until the end of the 118th Congress. The seat for the full term starting in January will be filled by the winner of the November election between Rep. Andy Kim, the Democratic nominee, and Republican Curtis Bashaw.
Helmy served as Murphy’s chief of staff for more than four years and previously was state director for New Jersey Democratic Sen. Cory Booker, who he will now serve alongside. Earlier in his career, Helmy worked for the late Democratic Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg.
