Murphy set to appoint Helmy as NJ’s next senator

Matthew Fazelpoor//August 15, 2024//

George Helmy. Gov. Phil Murphy's former chief of staff, is joining RWJBarnabas Health as executive vice president, chief external affairs and policy officer.

George Helmy, Gov. Phil Murphy's former chief of staff, joined RWJBarnabas Health as executive vice president, chief external affairs and policy officer last fall. - RWJBARNABAS

Matthew Fazelpoor//August 15, 2024//

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After a suspenseful month, Gov. Phil Murphy will tap his former chief of staff George Helmy as New Jersey’s next U.S. senator, replacing Robert Menendez.

Helmy’s appointment was first reported the evening of Aug. 14 by the New Jersey Globe.

Menendez was convicted last month in a federal bribery and corruption case. On July 23, Menendez announced he would step down from his seat, effective Aug. 20 (see below for a timeline of events).

That meant Murphy would choose a replacement to serve as a caretaker until January – when the winner of this year’s election between Democrat and current 3rd District U.S. Rep. Andy Kim and Republican Curtis Bashaw will be seated for the new term.

Rumors have swirled over the past few weeks about who Murphy would select with a variety of names mentioned such as Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way, former U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson and others.

Earlier this month, the New York Post reported that Helmy had emerged as a frontrunner.

On Wednesday night, that reality came to fruition, as the Globe reported that Murphy intended to formally offer Helmy the post as soon as Thursday and make an official announcement by Friday.

A key ally

Helmy, 44, served as Murphy’s chief of staff from February 2019 until September 2023, when he joined RWJBarnabas Health as its executive vice president, chief external affairs and policy officer.

Helmy has deep political ties and remains a key ally for Murphy. He was a former staffer for his soon-to-be Senate colleague, U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, as well as for Booker’s predecessor, the late Frank Lautenberg. Helmy is also currently commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

From left, Gov. Phil Murphy, Chief of Staff George Helmy and Chief Counsel Parimal Garg in Newark on March 15, 2021. — From left, Gov. Phil Murphy, then Chief of Staff George Helmy and Chief Counsel Parimal Garg in Newark on March 15, 2021. – EDWIN J. TORRES/NJ GOVERNOR’S OFFICE

Neither Murphy’s office nor Helmy immediately responded to a request for comment.

“Simply put, you cannot write the history of our administration without recognizing George’s singular role in leading our team for over four and a half years,” Murphy said last September when Helmy departed. “His unique mix of public and private sector experience, strong management skills, and deep relationships across the political spectrum made him uniquely capable to excel in this job. From managing our all-of-government response to a once-in-a-century pandemic to driving nearly every single one of our legislative goals to completion, George has put his heart and soul into serving the people of New Jersey.”

During his radio call-in show on WNYC Wednesday evening, Murphy was tight-lipped about the pending appointment when pressed by host Nancy Solomon.

“I think, most importantly, somebody who has Jersey values and will fight like hell on behalf of New Jersey. Sen. Menendez’s career is ending tragically – but he fought like hell for Jersey for several decades,” said Murphy.

Murphy continued, “Sen. Booker fights like heck every day. That’s somebody, again, who’s going to have nothing else on their radar other than doing right by our state, our residents, and have the values that we all cherish that are so unique to Jersey. No news to make in terms of names – but it’s getting now to the point where it’ll be any moment over the next few days, as you rightfully point out. Sen. Menendez is stepping down Tuesday – so no names, no news to break on that front. But somebody who’s going to be all in on behalf of our state, our people, and our values.”

The New Jersey Globe report dropped right after Murphy’s show came to a close.

The last Senate appointment made by a New Jersey governor was when Chris Christie appointed his former law partner and state Attorney General Jeff Chiesa to fill Lautenberg’s seat after he died in 2013.

This story is developing. Please stay with NJBIZ for updates.