Lakewood: New Jersey Senate Primaries Shake Up, As Murphy, Menendez Suspend Campaign

By FrumNews.com

New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy, the wife of Governor Phil Murphy, suspended her campaign for the vacant New Jersey Senate seat, paving the way for her Democratic opponent, Rep. Andy Kim.

Last week, Senator Bob Menendez, who was indicted by the Justice Department on alleged Bribery charges in 2023, announced he would not seek the Democratic nomination. But did not rule out a third-party run.

The First Lady entered the race in November, backed by a number of influential “establishment” state Democrats. Rep. Kim entered the race immediately after Senator Menendez was indicted in September. Kim has since become the frontrunner in the primary race. Polls show him leading Murphy by 10-12 points.

In the midst of the campaign, Kim filed suit directly challenging the state’s electoral system, which favors the county leaders’ preferred candidate. Using a preferred ballot, the practice allows county leaders to bracket their preferred candidates for every office together into the prime position with a single row or column.

According to insiders, Tammy Murphy viewed the race as unwinnable without spending millions and a messy campaign against another Democrat. Her announcement came on the eve of the state’s primary filing deadline.

“After many busy, invigorating and, yes, challenging months, I am suspending my Senate campaign today,” the First Lady said in a video message. I’ve been genuine and factual throughout, but it is clear to me that continuing in this race will involve waging a very divisive and negative campaign, which I am not willing to do.”

“I’m making this decision because this campaign has never been about me. And right now, I know the best thing we can do for New Jersey is to unite and focus on the real issues at hand.”

As FrumNews.com reported, in our highlight of this election, earlier this month, both candidates ran on similar Israel-related issues, such as the return of the immediate return Hostages, support for Eretz Yisroel, and increased humanitarian aid. However, Murphey is a more liberal Democrat, running on Medicare for All, Climate Change and other progressive policies. Rep. Kim, who represents Southern New Jersey, is a more Moderate Democrat.

Following the suspension of Murphy’s campaign, Rep. Kim, said in a statement, “Tammy Murphy has been a voice for progress and public service in our state, and I respect her decision to carry on that work as our states First Lady. Tammy and I both agree that it is critical that we keep this seat, and the Senate, in Democratic control. Unity is vital… I look forward to working alongside her, and the Governor, between now and November, and I hope to work alongside them to fight for New Jersey if I’m elected to represent our amazing state in the U.S. Senate.”

The First Lady has yet to formally endorse Kim’s campaign but is expected to do so in the coming week’s.

On the Republican side of the Primary, Former News 12 New Jersey reporter Alex Zdan has withdrawn from the race, leaving Curtis Bashaw and Christine Serrano Glassner to battle for the GOP nomination.

Where does the race stand?

On the Democrat side, Rep. Andy Kim is poised to win the nomination, with no serious challenger in the Primary. The GOP primary will pit Curtis Bashaw and Christine Serrano Glassner against each other unless one of them suspends their campaign.

Spicing up the race, embattled Senator Bob Menendez might run as an independent in the Senate race.

Many Lakewood Askunim breathed a sigh of relief as the First Lady, who is more liberal, dropped out. They say the absence of the Governor’s wife on the ballot lifts the weight of the race, should it have come to a head. Telling FrumNews.com, “[Kim] is a popular Congressman from a nearby district and the Governor and the First Lady are both popular. This race could have been messy in Lakewood.”

Following the 2021 gubernatorial election, which Governor Phil Murphy won by just under 90,000 votes, a prominent ‘Frum news’ website went against the Lakewood Vaad, claiming it may be responsible for handing the Democratic Governor a second term against his frum friendly Republican challenger Jack Ciattarelli. They claimed that the Republican would have won if the Vaad had endorsed Ciattarelli—although the margin of victory was nearly 90,000 votes, with most Lakewood area residents anyway voted for the Republican, by a wide margin.

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