New Jersey
Appointed Sen. George Helmy boasts good relations with New Jersey Jewish community
Sen. George Helmy (D-NJ), the placeholder senator picked to replace former Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) in the Senate until a winner of the New Jersey Senate race is certified, won’t be in Congress for much longer. But, given the close margins in the Senate, his vote could prove important in his final weeks in the upper chamber.
Helmy, 44, is the former chief of staff to Gov. Phil Murphy and served as a staffer for Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and the late Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), both strong supporters of Israel. He’s the son of immigrants from Egypt, and the first Coptic Christian and the sixth Arab American to serve in the Senate.
Jewish leaders in New Jersey said he’s maintained positive relationships with the community in his career in state politics. Jason Shames, the CEO of the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey, told Jewish Insider that Helmy, was supportive of Jewish and pro-Israel priorities, and was consistently willing to listen to and understand Jewish community perspectives and concerns.
“We’re hoping that as long as he sits in that seat, he’ll continue to partner with us, especially during a very challenging couple of months,” Shames said.
“In the governor’s office, he worked to make sure that everybody’s voice was heard… from the Orthodox to the Reform,” Karin Elkis, a co-chair of the New Jersey-Israel Commission and a former congressional staffer, said. “He always made sure to cover it all… I know he has respect from the community.”
A Helmy spokesperson said in a statement that, in New Jersey, the senator was “involved in advancing the work of the New Jersey-Israel Commission,” helping to grow foreign direct investment from Israel in New Jersey by hundreds of millions of dollars under the Murphy administration.
“Through the years, Senator Helmy has been involved in many meetings with community, faith, education, and business leaders to discuss the prosperity and protection of the Jewish and Israeli American population in the state,” the spokesperson said. “And with the concerning rise in antisemitism over the past few years, Senator Helmy has supported the Governor, Attorney General, and other law enforcement agencies in their efforts to protect those within the Jewish and Israeli American population in their homes, schools, places of worship, and beyond.”
The spokesperson said Helmy’s work with New Jersey’s Jewish and Israeli populations goes back to his early years as a Senate staffer.
Helmy’s tenure in the Senate will be among the shortest in U.S. history — he plans to step down in November to allow the winner of the U.S. Senate race, likely Rep. Andy Kim (D-NJ), to finish out the remaining weeks of the term.
In an interview with Politico near the start of his term, Helmy was clear-eyed about the brevity of his tenure and indicated that he doesn’t expect to make waves legislatively during his short time in the Senate, planning to serve as a reliable vote in support of Democratic priorities.
Helmy’s spokesperson said that the senator will “use his voice to uplift and stand up for some of the most vulnerable civilians in the region and to support ongoing efforts to restore regional stability.”
“The senator believes Israel has a right to exist and to defend itself in accordance with international law to combat Hamas and safely retrieve all hostages,” the spokesperson continued. “At the same time, he also believes that it is time for a cessation of hostilities as concerns of further escalations in the conflict grow. Sen. Helmy finds the current state of relief and access to humanitarian assistance unacceptable, and is of the vehement opinion that immediate humanitarian aid should be guaranteed and provided to civilians in Gaza.”
In his first Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, Helmy questioned Stephanie Hallett, the nominee to be U.S. ambassador to Bahrain, about U.S. military cooperation with Bahrain, efforts to build a regional security architecture and Bahrain’s diplomatic overtures to Iran, making reference to his experiences in the Middle East.
He also asked Julie Smith, the nominee to be under secretary of state for political affairs, about the Ukraine war.
Booker, Helmy’s former boss, introduced Helmy during that same hearing. He said that Helmy had been a “great advisor” to him and to Murphy on foreign policy issues. “He is thoughtful, he is knowledgeable, he is an extraordinary addition to this committee.”
Helmy said that he’s taken guidance from Booker, a consistent pro-Israel voice, on foreign policy.
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Every year comes with its own personality, but New Jersey doesn’t wait around to see what the rest of the country decides is “in.” We move fast here. We adapt. We complain loudly — and then we make it part of our routine. Somewhere between a jughandle turn and a diner refill, 2026 developed a very Jersey personality. You may not have noticed it happening, but you’re already living it.
Here are 10 things that feel unmistakably so 2026, Garden State edition.
The way New Jersey talks now (and what it really means)
Calling every inconvenience “a situation.”
Traffic? Situation. School drop-off? Situation. The coffee machine acting up? Full-blown situation.
Quietly flexing about not pumping gas.
We don’t brag. We just casually mention it… often.
Errands, routines and the New Jersey sense of time
Planning an entire weekend around one errand.
Costco, Home Depot, or MVC — choose wisely and clear your schedule.
Checking Dan Zarrow’s forecast on the NJ101.5 app religiously.
Because if you’re going to trust the weather, it might as well be someone who knows New Jersey.
Having a “favorite small town” you don’t live in.
You’ve “been a few times.” You “get the vibe.”
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Roads, tolls and the daily traffic psychology of NJ
Treating tolls like a personal betrayal.
Every increase feels targeted, and we all do the same mental math at the booth anyway.
Explaining traffic circles and roundabouts like a survival skill.
Somehow we all know exactly what to do — except when we don’t.
Money stress, comfort food and Garden State coping mechanisms
Treating diners as emotional support buildings.
Coffee refills fix things. It’s science.
Complaining about taxes while never actually leaving.
Because deep down, we know better.
Comparing energy bills like it’s a competitive sport.
Nobody likes the numbers, but everyone wants to know if theirs is worse.
The truth is, 2026 in New Jersey isn’t about trends you see online. It’s about habits, shortcuts, shared frustrations, and small victories we all pretend are normal. And if you read this nodding along, congratulations — you’re not behind the times. You’re just right on schedule… in New Jersey.
Best New Jersey Diners For Breakfast and Lunch
Thank you to our New Jersey listeners for these recommendations.
Gallery Credit: Bill Spadea
New Jersey
Though down from previous month, New Jersey online casinos post November revenue record in 2025
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While online casinos in New Jersey fell short of another revenue record, November was still the state’s second-best month ever with over $253 million.
They’ve been around for over 12 years, yet online casinos in New Jersey continue to find ways to set revenue records. After posting the industry’s largest single-month total in October, NJ online casinos last month combined for $253 million to set a November record and ranks as the second-biggest single-month total in Garden State history.
NJ online casinos set single-year record with one month left
Since launching in 2013, NJ online casinos have continually set high-water marks – even now, a dozen years later.
With $253 million in November revenue, as reported by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, casino apps in the Garden State now sit at just over $2.64 billion for the year, leading to $455 million in state tax revenue. With one month left in 2025, the industry has already set a single-year record, which previously stood at around $2.4 billion.
To further put into perspective the growth of online gambling in New Jersey, the industry is over 22% ahead of the 11-month pace it set in 2024. Consider the first 14 months of online casinos in NJ, during which time operators combined for a mere $131.2 million in revenue.
While it’s unlikely that NJ online casinos will reach the $3 billion mark by the end of the year, iGaming has proven it can continue to grow after more than 10 years of existence.
FanDuel Casino, DraftKings Casino continue to set pace
While the monthly total is one for the books, the standard brands set themselves apart from the rest of the market.
For example, FanDuel Casino – which new users can sign up with and claim the FanDuel casino bonus – reported $60.2 million. That was well ahead of the second-place DraftKings Casino bonus, which helped drive $49.6 million in November.
Along with the BetMGM Casino app ($30.6 million), Borgata Casino ($20.6 million) and Caesars Palace Online Casino ($19.3 million), the top five revenue-earners in November accounted for more than 71% of the total online casino total in November.
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