Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) has officially ended his independent bid to retain his Senate seat, as he prepares to step down following his recent criminal conviction.
In a Friday letter to New Jersey’s Division of Elections, Menendez requested to be removed from the November ballot, the final day he could withdraw from the race.
Menendez had initially launched an independent campaign after opting not to pursue the Democratic nomination during his legal woes.
The move was criticized by Rep. Andy Kim (D-N.J.), who is considered the front-runner for the seat.
“Everyone knows Bob Menendez isn’t running for NJ families. He’s running for himself,” Kim tweeted in June.
“People are fed up with politicians putting their own personal benefit ahead of what’s right for the country. It’s beyond time for change. I’m stepping up to restore integrity back to the Senate.”
Menendez had been eyeing another Senate term when he was accused of trading political favors for financial bribes, along with acting as a foreign agent for Egypt and Qatar last year.
In July, he was found guilty on all 16 charges, including bribery and acting as a foreign agent, and Menendez said he would appeal the ruling.
“He must stand up now and leave the Senate. He must do that, and if he refuses to do that, many of us, but I will lead that effort to make sure he is removed from the Senate,” Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) said at the time. “That is the right thing to do. That is the just thing to do.”
“I have never violated my public oath,” he countered post-trial. “I have never been anything but a patriot of my country and for my country. I have never, ever been a foreign agent.”
Though he resisted Democrat’s calls for him to resign during the trial, after the conviction sent in his resignation, which becomes effective on Tuesday.
Now that Menendez is out, Kim will face off against Republican businessman Curtis Bashaw, amongst other minor players.
Bashaw issued a statement about Menendez’s exit on Friday, saying, “Bob Menendez’s corruption has been a distraction in New Jersey government and politics for years.”
“It’s time to move on with this election and make it a clean, straightforward race focusing on the issues facing our state,” he added.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) announced Friday that he will appoint George Samir Helmy, his former chief of staff, to fill Menendez’s Senate seat upon his resignation.
“Today, I am incredibly proud to announce that upon Senator Menendez’s resignation, I will be appointing George Samir Helmy to represent New Jersey in the United States Senate,” Murphy stated.
He praised Helmy as “the ideal leader” and noted that he has “more relevant experience under his belt than perhaps anybody in New Jersey.”
Helmy expressed gratitude for Murphy’s trust and belief in his capabilities, saying, “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.”
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In today’s government, it is not so easy to find a politician who is not in it for themselves; and that is why public trust in our government is probably at an historic low. The proof is in the pudding they have been serving up to our citizens for many years and that pudding is definitely spoiled.