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Sophie Nieto-Munoz, New Jersey Monitor
Sen. Bob Menendez, convicted of bribery and acting as a foreign agent last month, is scheduled to resign in one week, and Gov. Phil Murphy has not divulged who he will name to take the senior senator’s place.
In a CNN interview Tuesday morning, Murphy said he’s in the “final stages” of selecting Menendez’s interim successor, who would replace the senator until his term ends Jan. 3. Murphy said he will choose “somebody who’s got Jersey first in everything they do.”
“I promise, folks, it’ll be someone who will stand up for New Jersey’s values and interests, and do a heck of a job,” he said.
Menendez announced last month that he will resign from the Senate effective Aug. 20. The senator, who was found guilty of taking bribes in exchange for wielding his influence in foreign matters and domestic criminal cases, has maintained his innocence but said he does not want his legal battle to detract from the Senate’s work.
Murphy noted Tuesday that first lady Tammy Murphy — who waged a brief campaign to win election to the Senate earlier this year — has said she does not want to be considered for the appointment.
“Beyond that, I’m going to have to leave you hanging,” the governor told CNN News Central host Kate Bolduan.
U.S. Rep. Andy Kim (D-03) and Republican Curtis Bashaw will face off in November for the chance to represent New Jersey in the Senate starting next year. As of Tuesday, Menendez is also running in November’s election as an independent candidate. The deadline for him to withdraw is Friday.
Republicans have urged Murphy not to appoint Kim and instead pick a caretaker who is not interested in the job beyond the temporary appointment.
Some Democrats are urging Murphy to choose Patricia Campos-Medina, a progressive labor leader who opposed Kim for the Democratic nomination for Senate in June. About four dozen people sent a letter to Murphy last week saying he should use his appointment power “to recognize the importance of the Latino community.” Menendez was revered by the community.
Paterson Councilman Luis Velez is among those who signed the letter. He said Campos-Medina would “bring the peace that the Democratic Party needs at this time.”
“I think she deserves to be there. She’s a hard-working woman, and she will represent the community quite well,” he said.
Velez noted that Campos-Medina finished second in June’s primary behind Kim, garnering about 16% of the vote.
If appointed to the seat, Campos-Medina would become the first woman, and the first Latina, to represent New Jersey in the U.S. Senate.
Campos-Medina said she’s honored by the groundswell of community leaders’ support for to be named to the Senate.
“This is the Governor’s choice to make, but of course, I am ready to serve if asked to give stability to this critical position at this critical time in our politics,” she said in a statement. “I ran for office to make sure women and New Jersey working families had a voice in this election. I will continue doing so as an active public servant and leader.”
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