Murphy on his way to raising $1 million for Democratic legislative candidates

Gov. Phil Murphy headlined a fundraiser for the Democratic Assembly Campaign Committee tonight as part of his commitment to raise $1 million for New Jersey legislative races this year.

The governor and his fundraiser-in-chief, First Lady Tammy Murphy, are personally engaged in boosting the chances of Democrats in the mid-term election, where all 120 legislative seats are up.

“Tonight’s event is another proof point that Democrats go into this November with energy, excitement, and a commitment to do the hard work necessary to win,” said Middlesex County Democratic Chairman Kevin McCabe.  “On behalf of all of us who are working so hard on this year’s legislative midterms, I’d like to thank Governor Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy for all they are doing to help us keep the Assembly and State Senate and ensure we continue to make progress and stop extremism here in New Jersey.”

Murphy will also be raising money for the Senate Democrats.

The new legislative map, forged after a deal between Democrats and Republicans, will be tested for the first time in November.

Democrats presently have a 25-15 majority in the Senate, with 46-34 control in Assembly.

Two-term governors traditionally lose legislative seats in their sixth year.  Republicans lost four Assembly seats in Chris Christie’s 2015 mid-term, three Assembly seats in Christine Todd Whitman’s 1999 mid-term, and one Senate seat and eight Assembly seats in Tom Kean’s 1987 mid-term.  Democrats lost ten Assembly seats in Brendan Byrne’s 1979 mid-term.

The last time a sitting two-term governor lost control of the legislature during their second mid-term election was in 1967 when Democrat Richard J. Hughes was governor.  The U.S. Supreme Court’s One-Man, One-Vote decision, followed by the 1966 New Jersey Constitutional Convention, led to the expansion of both houses: the Senate from 29 to 40 and the Assembly from 60 to 80.

That year, the Senate went from a 19-10 Democratic majority to a 31-9 control for the Republicans.  The Assembly went from 41 Democrats and 19 Republicans to a 58-22 GOP majority.