speculation is still swirling about who Governor Murphy will tap to replace US senator Bob Menendez and we may have an answer in just a matter of days Menendez is set to officially resign on August 20th after being found guilty by a jury on 16 counts of bribery and Corruption as well as acting as a foreign agent several prominent names in the Democratic party are being floated as potential choices to fill the vacant seat until the newly elected Senate takes office January 3rd but a senior political correspondent David Cruz reports they'll serve a critical role as a full voting member among a divided Congress Governor Murphy returns from his European Vacation this weekend to what will be a very busy fall season top of the list though is the pending US Senate vacancy effective August 20 that's less than two weeks away and speculation has been percolating inquiries have been made and background checks are said to be underway the last time this happened was in 2013 good afternoon uh it's my uh honor today to uh let you all know that I tend to appoint New Jersey State Attorney General Jeff kza to be New Jersey's next United States Senator then Governor Chris Christie selected his friend and then State Attorney General Jeff kza to fill the senate seat that was made vacant by the death of Frank lenberg circumstances are a bit different here in 2024 there's an election in a few months and Andy Kim is a Democrat and the governor is a Democrat that is the governor's decision in terms of who fills that role if asked I I would accept but it's complicated or at least not that simple columnist Charlie style is writing about it this week he says there's lingering ill will from the Democratic primary for us Senate which saw Tammy Murphy's campaign crash and burn the governor and his wife who've never really been through a Rockham sakam campaign all indications are they haven't really gotten over it they they they resent it and so they're not going to reward the people who punch them in public former Murphy Chief of Staff George helmy is a name that has been mentioned prominently he's a safe pick if Murphy follows the Christy model says style the one mind is reward uh a uh an a close Confidant who basically was instrumental in stabilizing my Administration and helping me pass through some of its uh Big Ticket items and someone who I trust state senator Troy Singleton says he's a helmy fan and would support that appointment but he says Murphy should be thinking beyond that he should be looking at history look I think if we are going to live our talk about being a true U micro a party that's a microcosm of our state um then I think it is incum upon the governor to look favorably upon a well-qualified uh Latina to serve in this role Singleton is one of scores of signatures on a letter urging Murphy to appoint former US Senate candidate Patricia compos Medina she would be the first woman the first Latina and the First mom to represent the state in the Senate pish is a natural she's so completely accomplished when it comes to Latino issues and New Jersey and labor issues nationally she's just accomplished but she was also a Tammy Murphy critic which may or may not be a disqualifier compos Medina says she'd happily take the gig but hasn't lobbied for it at all she knows politics will likely guide Murphy's choice but says she would do it the same way again I took on the political process that anointed certain individuals over others yeah and that was not a new fight for me to have I've been doing it as a leader of organization that supports women to run for office we needed an open process and a process that wasn't waited by the line insiders say there should be an announcement probably next week meanwhile the person can't take office though until they get sworn in and they can't get sworn in unless the sen is in session which won't happen again until September I'm David Cruz NJ Spotlight News NJ Spotlight News