Sens. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Andy Kim (D-NJ) were sworn in Monday by Vice President Kamala Harris to serve the last three weeks for terms held by former Sens. Lephonza Butler (D-CA) and George Helmy (D-NJ).
Butler and Helmy resigned over the weekend so that Schiff and Kim, both of whom won elections in November to full six-year terms starting in January, could be appointed to assume their posts early. Schiff was also elected to serve the remaining term of Butler’s seat.
Butler was appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) in October 2023 to replace the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), and Helmy was appointed by Gov. Phil Murphy (D-NJ) in August to succeed disgraced former Sen. Bob Menendez after a criminal conviction.
They both vowed to be placeholders until voters could elect new senators to their respective seats.
Schiff and Kim will be sworn in again Jan. 3 at the start of their full six-year terms to the 119th Congress, along with the other incoming new senators who were elected in November. Both resigned their House seats over the weekend, giving House Republicans a slight majority boost in the final weeks of the current session.
“The Senate Democrats add two high-ranking caliber leaders who have already had great reputations in the House, where they got a whole lot done,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said.
Having represented coastal blue states for years, Schiff and Kim are no strangers to national politics.
Schiff served in the House since 2001, was a former House Intelligence Committee chairman, and was the lead impeachment manager for former President Donald Trump’s first Senate trial.
“Schiff brings to the Senate an impressive record as a leading voice among House Democrats, where he was known for his piercing eloquence, his thoughtfulness, his unwavering support of democracy, and his courage,” Schumer said. “As former chair of the House Intelligence Committee, he brings deep expertise and knowledge that will make him just a great senator.”
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Kim served in the House since 2019, previously worked in the State Department, and drew notoriety for helping staff clean the U.S. Capitol building in the immediate aftermath of the 2021 riot. He is the first Korean American senator in history.
“He’s one of the most respected and admired in the House Democratic Caucus, where his talent was only matched by his decency,” Schumer said. “He boasts an impressive record of service as a national security expert and diplomat, and spent every day in Congress putting families first.”