After nearly four months on the road, New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy has suspended her campaign for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate.
In a video published on the social media platform on Sunday, Murphy said she wanted to make sure voters heard from her directly.
“After several busy, energizing and, yes, challenging months, I am suspending my Senate campaign today,” Murphy said. “I have been completely realistic and factual, but it is clear to me that continuing in this race would involve running a very divisive and negative campaign, which I am not willing to do.”
She added that despite “so much at stake” she would not “waste resources on taking down a fellow Democrat.”
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Murphy was scheduled to face Rep. Andy Kim in the June primary. Both announced their campaigns following the federal indictment of Senator Bob Menendez.
In the video, Murphy said New Jersey’s next senator should “focus on the issues of our time” and that “the best thing we can do for New Jersey is to unite and focus on the real issues. “
She also said she would continue to work to re-elect President Joe Biden and achieve Democratic victories “up and down the ballot.”
Murphy made no mention of Kim at all in the more than three-minute video posted Sunday afternoon.
In a statement, Kim called Murphy “a voice for progress and public service in our state” and said he respected her decision.
“Tammy and I both agree that it is important that we keep this seat and the Senate under Democratic control,” he said. “Unity is vital. We will continue our efforts to strengthen our democracy in New Jersey, while also standing up against the dangerous agenda pursued by Trump.”
What about Kim’s fight to destroy the line?
Most of the focus during the campaign so far has been on the ballot design used by most people in the state. A lawsuit filed by Kim last month calls into question the constitutionality of the prime positioning, known as the county line.
It alleges that New Jersey’s ballot design creates an unfair advantage for the candidate awarded the “line” or first place on the ballot. Clerks from all 19 counties that use the county line ballot design are named as defendants.
Attorney General Matthew Platkin said in a letter to the judge that he considers the current New Jersey ballot design “unconstitutional” and does not intend to defend it in court. Kim, along with Patricia Campos-Medina and Lawrence Ham, have already called for eliminating the line system and implementing the block system, which is used by every other state in the country and two New Jersey counties, statewide. Are.
At a press briefing Sunday night, Kim reiterated that he is still pursuing his legal case against the line, but said he had talked to county party chairmen about filling spots on the line that were previously filled by Murphy. and said that he would do so.
The congressman also said he spoke to Murphy on Sunday about the decision to suspend the campaign, but not about a potential endorsement.
Where did the race stop?
Kim and Murphy were struggling to secure that ballot at county conventions across the state. Murphy won or was awarded the line in Passaic, Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Union, Camden and Gloucester counties, and Kim made it to the line in Monmouth, Ocean, Atlantic, Burlington, Hunterdon, Warren, Mercer and Morris counties. I had won.
In addition to receiving endorsements from county parties, Murphy was endorsed by six of Kim’s colleagues in the state’s congressional delegation. Representatives Josh Gottheimer, Donald Norcross, Frank Pallone, Bill Pascrell Jr., Donald Payne Jr., and Mickey Sherrill all announced their endorsements within days of Murphy’s entry into the race.
Murphy campaigned primarily on issues she has been involved with during the administration of her husband, Governor Phil Murphy, including maternal health, climate change, and gun control.
This is a developing story. check for updates.
Katie Sobko covers the New Jersey Statehouse. Email: [email protected]
