Phil Murphy to tap former chief of staff to serve remainder of Menendez's NJ Senate term: Report

New Jersey's Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy is expected to tap one of his former aides to serve the remainder of Sen. Bob Menendez's term, after the embattled senator resigns later this month.

Menendez announced that he would resign his post after he was convicted of all charges including fraud, bribery, acting as a foreign agent, and obstruction, on July 16. He is expected to resign his post on Tuesday.

Murphy is now expected to name his former chief of staff George Helmy to serve the remaining five months of Menendez's term, according to The Hill. Helmy is currently a health care executive in one of New Jersey’s largest hospital systems, but previously worked for Murphy and New Jersey's other Sen. Cory Booker.

Helmy served as the governor's chief of staff from 2019 through 2023, and helped Murphy stabilize his relationship with the state legislature. Helmy has not released a statement on the potential appointment.

Murphy has also not commented publicly on the upcoming appointment, but said that he expects to make a decision "in a few days," during an appearance on the radio show "Ask Governor Murphy."

“We’ve considered a whole range of options, and I’m proud of that fact in the sense that we didn’t narrow ourselves into a corner,” Murphy said during the radio interview. 

Murphy's wife, Tammy Murphy, who ran for Menendez's seat in the Democratic Primary, reportedly told the governor that she was not interested in serving the remainder of the senator's term. New Jersey Democratic Rep. Andy Kim is the Democratic nominee for the full term on November 5. Republican Curtis Bashaw will be Kim's predominant opponent.

Helmy is expected to take office on September 9, after the Senate returns from its August recess, per the New Jersey Globe.

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.