LeRoy Jones, Jr., the Democratic state chairman and Essex County Democratic chairman, has endorsed Tammy Murphy’s bid for a seat in the United States Senate, giving the fledgling candidate the backing of one of New Jersey’s most powerful Democrats.
“Tammy Murphy has not just been New Jersey’s First Lady these last six years. She has been a fierce advocate for women, for families, for climate education and solutions, for equity in health care, and for all of New Jersey,” Jones said. “She has helped craft policy solutions to address staggering racial disparities in both maternal and infant mortality rates in New Jersey. She helped design and implement a first-in-the-nation climate change education standards program in the state”
Jones also praised Murphy for being “a strong supporter of women’s rights and better gun laws to protect our communities and children.”
“I have no doubt that Tammy Murphy will bring her experience and expertise to Washington and serve New Jersey with integrity and passion,” stated Jones.
Essex County has nearly 300,000 registered Democrats, the most in the state – about 12% of the primary electorate.
Murphy has now secured public endorsements from one-third of the state’s Democratic county chairs.
Last week, Democratic leaders in Camden, Bergen, Hudson, Middlesex, Passaic, and Somerset endorsed Murphy for Senate
Jones’s support for Murphy had been expected; he is an ally of Gov. Phil Murphy. He had also been a longtime supporter of the incumbent, Bob Menendez.
Murphy faces Rep. Andy Kim (D-Moorestown) and former Newark school board member Larry Hamm in the Democratic primary – and maybe Menendez.