New Jersey First Lady Tammy Snyder Murphy speaks as Governor Philip D. Murphy is sworn in for his second term as the 56th governor of the State of New Jersey at the War Memorial Building in Trenton, New Jersey, United States, on January 18, 2022.
Tayfun Coskun | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images
Tammy Murphy, the wife of New Jersey Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy, announced Sunday that she is withdrawing from the state’s Democratic Senate primary. The winner of the June 4 election will become the favorite to replace indicted Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez.
“After many busy, invigorating and, yes, challenging months. Today I am suspending my Senate campaign,” Murphy said in a Sunday briefing. send on
Murphy’s exit paves the way for Democratic Rep. Andy Kim to solidify his front-runner status ahead of the primary.
Menendez confirmed last week that he will not run for a fourth term as a Democrat. He also teased a potential run for his set as an independent.
The senator and his wife have been indicted on more than a dozen counts of federal crimes, including corruption charges. Prosecutors allege that Menendez provided sensitive information to the Egyptian government, allegedly exchanging his political clout for hundreds of thousands of dollars in gifts, including gold bars and a Mercedes-Benz convertible.
“With Donald Trump on the ballot and with so much at stake for our nation, I will not in good conscience waste resources taking down a fellow Democrat,” Murphy, a former Republican voter, added in his retirement announcement.
In June, Kim, who launched His campaign, the day after Menendez’s indictment, will face several longtime challengers, including progressive activists Larry Hamm and Patricia Campos-Medina.
Kim has been the Democratic favorite so far, consistently placing ahead of Murphy, especially as she has lost several countywide votes, including in her home turf of Monmouth County.
On Monday, Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop rescinded his support for Murphy and passed it to Kim.
“It’s not always comfortable to admit a mistake, but clearly I made one here and this convention season proved it [Kim] is the best candidate to represent NJ,” Fulop wrote in a send on X.
Murphy’s campaign declined further comment.