Tammy Murphy, the wife of New Jersey Democratic Governor Phil Murphy, announced her withdrawal from the state’s Democratic Senate primary contest. This decision came amidst a competitive race to replace indicted Democratic Senator Bob Menendez, with the winner of the June 4 election being favored for the position. In her announcement, Murphy expressed her reluctance to engage in a divisive and negative campaign, leading to her decision to suspend her Senate campaign.
With Tammy Murphy exiting the race, Democratic Rep. Andy Kim is poised to solidify his frontrunner status ahead of the primary. Menendez, who confirmed he would not seek a fourth term, has also hinted at a potential run as an Independent. The senator and his wife face multiple federal criminal charges, including allegations of bribery where prosecutors claim Menendez provided sensitive information to the Egyptian government in exchange for monetary gifts. With the focus on defeating Donald Trump in the upcoming elections, Tammy Murphy felt it was not in her conscience to divide Democratic resources by running against fellow Democrats.
In the upcoming primary election, Andy Kim will compete against several long-shot challengers, including progressive activists Larry Hamm and Patricia Campos-Medina. Kim, who launched his campaign promptly after Menendez’s indictment, has emerged as the Democratic favorite. This was further solidified as Murphy lost key county-level endorsements, including in her home county of Monmouth. Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, who initially endorsed Murphy, later retracted his support and switched it to Kim, citing the latter as the better candidate to represent New Jersey.
Despite requests for further comment, the Murphy campaign declined to provide additional information regarding Tammy Murphy’s decision to withdraw from the Senate race. As the primary date draws near, the focus remains on the contenders vying for the Democratic nomination and the potential implications of Menendez’s absence in the race. The outcome of the election on June 4 will likely have significant ramifications for the state of New Jersey and the broader political landscape as the battle for the Senate seat intensifies.
