Corzine to name Menendez to serve out his Senate term

New Jersey Gov.-elect Jon Corzine will name Democratic Rep. Robert Menendez to fill the remaining year of his Senate term, Democratic congressional aides said Wednesday.

The announcement was expected to be made as early as Thursday, said congressional figures close to Corzine, also a Democrat. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the announcement had not yet been made.

Menendez would be the first minority member to represent New Jersey in the Senate, and would be the body's third sitting Hispanic senator, alongside Republican Sen. Mel Martinez of Florida and Democratic Sen. Ken Salazar of Colorado.