Andy Kim takes office as NJ’s new senator 3 weeks early

Rep. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) was appointed to the Senate on Sunday following the resignation of interim Democratic Sen. George Helmy.

In a statement, Gov. Phil Murphy (D-N.J.) announced the appointment, noting he is taking the step to allow Kim to “embark on the smoothest possible transition into his new role so he can hit the ground running.”

Murphy thanked Helmy for his three months serving in the Senate. Helmy was sworn into the Senate in September to fill the remainder of former Sen. Bob Menendez’s (D) term.

Menendez’s seat was vacated after he was found guilty on 16 charges in a wide-ranging corruption case. He resigned from the Senate shortly after the conviction, which he said he will appeal.

“I want to thank our outgoing U.S. Senator George Helmy for his continued service to New Jersey and the nation over the past three months and for working [closely] with Senator-elect Kim to ensure a seamless transition,” Murphy said.

Murphy also congratulated Kim for making history as the state’s first Asian American senator and the first Korean American elected to the Senate in the country.

In a statement, Kim, who has served in the House since 2019, said it’s an honor to continue to serve New Jersey.

“It’s an honor to get to represent the state that gave my family a chance at the American Dream in the U.S. Senate,” Kim said. “It’s a dream that remains out of reach for too many of our neighbors, and one that I’m ready on day one to fight for.”

Helmy announced last week that he would resign from his seat to ally Kim to take the position a few weeks before the start of the next term of Congress.

Kim will be sworn in on Monday.

His election victory cemented his rise from an underdog candidate defeating Republican Curtis Bashaw.