Camden Mayor Vic Carstarphen endorsed First Lady Tammy Murphy for U.S. Senate this morning, giving the first lady another South Jersey ally in her fight for indicted Senator Bob Menendez’s seat.
“I find great comfort in knowing that when Tammy gets to Washington, she will be a Senator who represents all the citizens in our state, including those who deal with the unique challenges of living and working in an urban environment,” Carstarphen said in a statement. “Also, as the first woman to represent NJ in the US Senate, she will be a critical voice in the defense of the rights and freedoms of people who are most likely to lose them. In short, I’m riding with Tammy to victory in June and beyond.”
Murphy is already assured to get the Camden County Democratic line in this year’s primary thanks to her endorsement from Camden Democratic Chair James Beach. But as Murphy works to build up a base in New Jersey’s Black and Hispanic communities, support from Carstarphen – a popular former high school basketball star who became mayor in 2021 – could go a long way in the city of Camden, the state’s 14th-largest municipality.
Also endorsing Murphy today was Amy Kennedy, a Brigantine native who ran an expensive, and ultimately unsuccessful, campaign in 2020 against Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-Dennis).
“Tammy and I have worked closely together on youth mental health and maternal and infant health as part of the National Governors Association,” Kennedy said in a statement. “From Salt Lake City to Los Angeles to Detroit to Philadelphia, Tammy’s approach to working with leaders from other states is incredibly effective, and a true testament to how she will lead in the U.S. Senate.”
Kennedy’s endorsement holds particular sway in Atlantic County, where Democrats are set to hold a competitive county convention to award their organizational line.
Murphy’s main opponent in the June primary election is Rep. Andy Kim (D-Moorestown), a South Jersey guy himself. Two other Democratic candidates, Patricia Campos-Medina and Larry Hamm, are also running; Menendez has not said whether he plans to seek another term.
See here for a full list of endorsements in New Jersey’s 2024 congressional contests.
This story was updated at 1:28 p.m. with Kennedy’s endorsement.