Embattled Senator Bob Menendez has dropped his long-shot independent bid for reelection ahead of the day he set to step down from his post following his bribery conviction.
Polls showed Menendez had slim chances of winning as an independent since he announced his intentions in early June. The new Democratic candidate, Rep. Andy Kim, has a lead in the state, according to two surveys conducted by co/efficient in late June.
Both polls surveyed 810 likely voters, one with Menendez in the picture and the other without: in the former, the incumbent only had 3% of the support, compared to Kim's 39% and Republican candidate Curtis Bashaw's 34%. The latter has Kim with 41% of the support, while Bashaw garners 34%. Menendez had 9% in an April poll by Emerson College Polling/PIX 11/The Hill.
Menendez is set to step down from his post on August 20 following his bribery conviction, where a jury found him guilty of accepting cash, gold bars and other perks from New Jersey businessmen in exchange for official favors that benefited them as well as the governments of Egypt and Qatar. Menendez has vowed to appeal the verdict.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has selected his former cabinet chief, George Helmy, to fill up the seat for the remainder of Menendez's term. He will be sworn in on September 9 when the Senate reconvenes after the summer recess.
"George is the ideal leader to take on this role," Murphy said during the announcement. He added that he is familiar with the inner workings of the Senate, considering he was a staffer for local senators in the past.
Helmy worked for NJ Sen. Cory Booker in different roles, including state director. He was also an aide to late Sen. Frank Lautenberg, the governor's office added.
"George understands on a very fundamental level how a U.S. Senate office operates, and he will be ready to run this office from moment one, and he will bring to this office firsthand expertise in providing the best possible constituent service" to families, Murphy said.
Helmy, on his end, said that "our residents deserve a functioning Senate office upon which they can call for help." "Relying on my familiarity with the Senate and my deep knowledge of the issues facing this state, I will stand as our second crucial voice in the Democratic caucus, under Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on the important items that will come before us over the next months," he added.
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