New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has appointed his former chief of staff, George Helmy, as the interim senator to fill the seat vacated by Bob Menendez, who resigned following his conviction on federal bribery charges. Helmy, who has a background working for Sen. Cory Booker and in the private sector, will serve until the winner of the November election is certified. Democratic Rep. Andy Kim and Republican Curtis Bashaw are competing in this election. Murphy emphasized that this approach allows for a smooth transition and avoids influencing the election. Helmy will step down once the election winner is appointed. This appointment underscores Murphy's commitment to restoring public trust amidst the corruption scandal involving Menendez.