GOP wants governor to name caretaker — not Rep. Kim — to replace Sen. Menendez

Republican Curtis Bashaw, left, and Democrat Rep. Andy Kim are running in November for U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez's seat. (Bashaw photo courtesy of campaign, Kim photo by New Jersey Monitor)

New Jersey Republicans on Tuesday again urged Gov. Phil Murphy to appoint a caretaker to temporarily replace Sen. Bob Menendez — and not Rep. Andy Kim, the Democratic nominee seeking Menendez’s seat in November.

Kim’s GOP opponent, Curtis Bashaw, last week called on Murphy to follow an example set by Govs. Tom Kean and Chris Christie and appoint a senator who is not on the ballot for a full senatorial term. Bashaw repeated that call Tuesday after news surfaced that Menendez intends to resign from the Senate next month.

“As Governor Murphy moves to appoint a replacement to his seat, I once again call on him to let voters make the ultimate decision of who should hold this seat in November’s election. The Governor should appoint a caretaker to this seat, as is the long-standing New Jersey tradition, and not give either candidate the advantage of incumbency in this election,” said Bashaw.

Menendez formally submitted his resignation letter to the Senate and Murphy on Tuesday. He intends to step down on Aug. 20, which would give his temporary replacement roughly four months in the seat.

The senator’s move follows widespread calls for his resignation after his conviction on bribery and other charges in federal court last week.

Republicans worry giving the temporary appointment to Kim would hand the Democrat a substantial boost as he seeks the full term in the fall.

“Enough with the back room deals that got us here, it’s time we begin repairing the Garden State’s reputation and commit to a fair and honest election without tipping the scales in anyone’s favor,” Sen. Tony Bucco, a Morris County Republican, said Tuesday.

Murphy, a Democrat, has so far demurred on who he might appoint for the remaining months of Menendez’s unexpired term. He declined to comment when asked about it Monday.

Following Menendez’s resignation, Murphy said in a statement that he would “make a temporary appointment to the United States Senate to ensure the people of New Jersey have the representation they deserve” — but mentioned no candidate.

First lady Tammy Murphy, who sought the Democratic Senate nod but ended her campaign amid faltering support among rank-and-file party officials, said Tuesday she will not seek the temporary appointment.

“While I’m grateful for the humbling support and outreach I’ve received since last year, I want to reiterate that I will not accept an appointment to the U.S. Senate,” she said in a statement.

There’s some history of caretaker appointments in New Jersey. Following the death of Sen. Frank Lautenberg in 2013, Christie appointed his attorney general, Jeffrey Chiesa, to a term that lasted a little less than five months. Chiesa was not a candidate and did not seek a fuller term in the Senate.

Gov. Tom Kean Sr. in 1982 appointed Nicholas Brady, an investment banker who chaired his transition, to an open seat after Sen. Harrison Williams resigned following his Abscam scandal bribery conviction. Brady did not seek election to the seat later that year.

Menendez himself was appointed to the Senate by Gov. Jon Corzine after Corzine was elected governor and ceded his Senate seat. Menendez ran for and won the seat the following November.

Brady and Chiesa are the only Republicans to hold a U.S. Senate seat in New Jersey since Sen. Clifford Case left the chamber in the first days of 1979. Republicans have not won a U.S. Senate race in New Jersey since 1972.

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