New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) will appoint George Helmy, his former chief of staff, to Sen. Bob Menendez's (D) seat to serve out the remaining five months in Menendez’s term, according to state Democratic Party Chair Leroy Jones.

Menendez announced in July he would resign from the seat Aug. 20 after a New York jury found him guilty on 16 counts tied to allegations of receiving bribes from foreign nations. Helmy is a health care executive in one of New Jersey’s biggest hospital systems and previously worked for Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.).

Menendez was up for reelection during this election cycle, and Rep. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) is running against Republican hotelier Curtis Bashaw. Kim is widely expected to win the election.

Helmy will be the sixth Arab American and first Coptic Christian to serve in the U.S. Senate. He will also be the fifth-youngest member of the upper chamber.

© The Hill