Democratic Sen.-elect Andy Kim was appointed to the House Senate early Sunday following his election victory last month.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, a fellow Democrat, appointed Kim to the Senate on Sunday following the official certification of the 2024 election results by the State Board of Elections and the Thursday resignation of Sen. George Helmy. announced. Mr. Helmy, Mr. Murphy's former chief of staff, was fired in September after Sen. Bob Menendez (D.N.J.) resigned from the Senate a month earlier after his conviction in a federal corruption trial. He became a senator.
Kim defeated Republican businessman Curtis Bashaw by nearly 10 points in the November election.
“Today, I am appointing Senator-elect Andy Kim to begin his term before the start of the new year,” Murphy said in a statement. “By taking this step, Senator Kim will be able to transition into his new role as smoothly as possible and get back to work on behalf of the people of New Jersey.”
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Congressman Andy Kim (D.N.J.) speaks to delegates on March 4, 2024 in Paramus, New Jersey. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)
Murphy congratulated Kim, who “made history as the first Asian American senator from New Jersey and the nation's first Korean American senator.”
“His election is a proud milestone not only for our great state, but for our entire country,” Murphy said. “I look forward to working with Senator Kim to continue to lower the cost of living for New Jerseyans, protect fundamental freedoms, and build a stronger, fairer state for all families.”
“It's an honor to represent the state that gave my family a chance at the American Dream in the U.S. Senate,” said Kim, who will be sworn in Monday.
“This remains a dream out of reach for many of our neighbors, but I'm ready to fight for it from day one,” said Kim, who represents New Jersey's 3rd Congressional District. “I would like to thank Governor Murphy and Senator Helmy for representing New Jersey so well during this transition, and I look forward to serving the people of New Jersey.”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (New York) will meet with newly elected Democratic senators, including Sen.-elect Andy Kim, on November 12, 2024. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
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In a statement announcing his resignation on Thursday, Helmy said he and Kim “have worked closely together since his election to ensure a seamless transition of power. I will also work closely with Kim in the coming weeks to support this process.” We were able to respond immediately.”
“This is the honor of a lifetime to represent the people of New Jersey in the Senate, and I am forever grateful to Governor Murphy for entrusting me with this responsibility,” said Helmy. “New Jersey voters made the right decision in November to elect Andy Kim to the United States Senate. New Jersey voters have known New Jersey Sen. Andy Kim for nearly a decade, but Kim “I can attest to the senator's great dedication, character and empathy for the people of New Jersey.” ”
Sen. Bob Menendez (DN.J.) will leave Manhattan Federal Court on July 16, 2024. (MEGA/GC image)
During his brief 85-day tenure, Mr. Helmy introduced and co-sponsored more than 30 bills, including five resolutions that passed the Senate floor, and received perfect votes, including the confirmation of 20 federal judgeship nominees. He advertised that he kept the record. “We will support the delivery of health and humanitarian aid to Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon,” and successfully recommended 48 candidates from New Jersey to four U.S. military academies.
Menendez was found guilty in July on all 16 charges he faced in a federal corruption trial. Prosecutors alleged that he used his influence to accept hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes, including gold, cash and Mercedes-Benz cars, in exchange for intervening in state and federal investigations of three businessmen. . The now former senator helped one friend secure a multi-million dollar contract with a Qatari investment fund and another maintained a contract to provide halal meat to Egypt. It is said that
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Last week, Menendez asked for a new trial and reversal of the conviction, arguing that the evidence the jury saw during deliberations was inadequate.
