Helmy Will Resign, Hand Over Senate Seat To Kim In New Jersey

NEW JERSEY — A congressional changing of the guard will take place in New Jersey this week when U.S. Sen. George Samir Helmy resigns to make way for senator-elect Andy Kim.

Helmy says he plans to resign on Sunday, a move that he promised would happen when he was appointed to the seat that former Sen. Bob Menendez once held.

Menendez’s term was set to end on Jan. 3, 2025. He resigned in August after his criminal conviction for bribery, which ignited a scramble to fill the power vacuum in New Jersey.

Gov. Phil Murphy announced that he was appointing Helmy, his former chief of staff, as Menendez’s temporary replacement in August. Helmy took office in September, pledging that he would step aside until a new senator was elected to a full term.

Upon his appointment to the U.S. Senate, Helmy became the only Arab-American senator in the 118th Congress.

A primary election between Democratic and Republican candidates took place in June, with U.S. Rep. Andy Kim (NJ-3) capturing the Democrat nomination, and South Jersey entrepreneur Curtis Bashaw earning the Republican nod. Independent and third-party candidates included Christina Khalil (Green Party), Kenneth Kaplan (Libertarian Party), Joanne Kuniansky (Socialist Workers Party), and Patricia Mooneyham (Independent).

Kim eventually triumphed in the 2024 general election. He will become the first Korean-American in the U.S. Senate when he takes office. See Related: Bashaw Concedes NJ Senate Race To Kim

The transition will mark a brief-but-busy stint in office for Helmy, who has served on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senate Finance Committee, and the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee. He has introduced or co-sponsored more than 30 bills, including five resolutions that passed the Senate chamber, maintained a perfect voting record – including the confirmation of 20 judicial nominees to federal bench – and has advocated for youth mental health and supplying humanitarian aid to Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon. Helmy has also successfully nominated 48 New Jersey candidates to the four United States Military Academies, and established a state office that “expeditiously closed” 117 constituent cases, according to his staff.

Kim is expected to be sworn in to the U.S. Senate on Monday.

“Looking back on my now 85 days and counting in this office, I am proud of the work my team and I have been able to accomplish,” Helmy said.

“It has been the honor of a lifetime representing the people of New Jersey in the Senate and I am eternally grateful to Gov. Murphy for entrusting me with this responsibility,” he said, adding that Garden State voters “made the right decision” when the elected Kim in November.

The senator-elect returned the compliment, saying that Helmy’s term in the Senate was “one of dedication and stability.”

“Senator Helmy has stepped up to serve New Jersey numerous times in his career, and we are grateful for his willingness to do so yet again in a time of need,” Kim said. “He served the people of New Jersey well and drew attention to critical issues like the youth mental health crisis – an issue I plan to continue to focus on.”

Cory Booker, the senior U.S. senator from New Jersey, also complimented his peer for his “unwavering commitment to improving the lives of those we represent.”

“In a short amount of time he accomplished so much, and his leadership has made us all proud,” Booker said.

Gov. Murphy also thanked Helmy for his service, adding that he plans to provide Kim with the “smoothest possible transition into office” by appointing him to the U.S. Senate.

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.