Newly elected Democratic Senator Andy Kim was appointed to the Senate of Congress early on Sunday following his election victory last month.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, a fellow Democrat, announced Sunday that he has appointed Kim to the U.S. Senate following the official certification of the 2024 election results by the state Board of Canvassers and the resignation of Sen. George Helmy on Thursday. Helmy, Murphy’s former chief of staff, was sworn into the Senate in September after Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., was convicted in a federal corruption trial and resigned from the Senate a month earlier.
Kim defeated Republican businessman Curtis Bashaw by nearly 10 percentage points in the November election.
“Today, I am appointing newly elected Senator Andy Kim to the United States Senate so he can begin his term before the new year begins,” Murphy said in a statement.. “Taking this step will help Senator Kim make the smoothest possible transition into his new role so he can hit the ground running and serve the people of New Jersey.”
Rep. Andy Kim, D-N.J., speaks to delegates in Paramus, N.J., March 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, file)
Murphy congratulated Kim “on making history as the first Asian American senator from New Jersey and as the first Korean American senator in the country.”
“His election represents a proud milestone – not just for our great state, but for our entire country,” Murphy said. “I look forward to working with Senator Kim to continue to lower costs for New Jerseyans, defend our fundamental freedoms, and build a stronger and fairer state for every family.”
Kim, who will be sworn in on Monday, said it is an honor “to represent the state that gave my family a chance at the American Dream in the United States Senate.”
“It’s a dream that remains out of reach for too many of our neighbors, and one that I’ve been ready to fight for since day one,” said Kim, who represented New Jersey’s 3rd Congressional District in the House of Representatives. “I want to thank Governor Murphy and Senator Helmy for ensuring New Jersey was well represented during this transition, and I look forward to getting to work on behalf of its people.”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., meets with newly elected Democratic senators, including newly elected Sen. Andy Kim, on November 12, 2024. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
In a statement announcing his resignation Thursday, Helmy said he and Kim “have worked closely since his election to ensure a seamless transition and I have made myself immediately available to support this process in the coming weeks.”
“It has been the honor of my life to represent the people of New Jersey in the Senate, and I am forever grateful to Governor Murphy for entrusting me with this responsibility,” Helmy said. “New Jersey voters made the right decision in November by electing Andy Kim as United States Senator. Having known him for almost a decade, I can attest to Senator Kim’s deep dedication, character and empathy for the people of New Jersey. New Jersey.”
Senator Bob Menendez, D-N.J., leaves Manhattan federal court on July 16, 2024. (MEGA/GC images)
During his short term of 85 days Helmy praised how he introduced and co-sponsored more than 30 bills, including five resolutions passed by the Senate chamber, maintained a perfect voting record, including the confirmation of 20 federal judicial nominees, “advocated for youth mental health care and the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon,” and successfully nominated 48 applicants from New Jersey to the four United States military academies.
Menendez was convicted in July on all 16 points he faced in a federal corruption trial. Prosecutors alleged he accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes, including gold, cash and a Mercedes-Benz, in exchange for using his influence to interfere with state and federal investigations into three businessmen. The now former senator is also said to have helped a friend secure a multi-million dollar deal with a Qatari investment fund and retained another friend in a contract to supply halal meat to Egypt.
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Menendez asked for a new trial and for the overturning of his conviction last week, citing what he said was improper evidence seen by jurors during deliberations.
