Carol Murphy endorses Andy Kim for U.S. Senate

Andy Kim’s fledgling campaign for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate has picked up his second major endorsement with the announcement that Assembly Majority Whip Carol Murphy (D-Mount Laurel) will support him in the 2024 Democratic primary.

“We have enjoyed a great working relationship since being on the campaign trail during his initial run for office,” Murphy said.  “I’ve appreciated his advocacy fighting for the priorities of New Jersey’s 3rd congressional district and have full confidence he will represent us well in the United States Senate.”

Kim, a three-term congressman and former Obama White House staffer, announced his Senate bid on Saturday, one day after three-term incumbent Bob Menendez was indicted on federal bribery charges.

Murphy and Senate Majority Whip Troy Singleton (D-Delran) quickly expressed interest in seeking Kim’s open House seat.

Singleton endorsed Kim on Saturday.

Support from Singleton and Murphy likely means that Kim will have a lock on the organization line in Burlington County, where all three live.

In a press conference on Monday, Menendez defiantly proclaimed his innocence and said he would not resign his seat, but stopped short of saying that he would run for re-election.  But the senior U.S. Senator from New Jersey has told some allies that he believes he could win a Democratic primary off the line if he needs to.

Murphy and Singleton have close ties to the South Jersey Democratic organization headed by George E. Norcross III.

Whether Menendez runs or not, the race for an open U.S. Senate seat is sure to attract other Democratic candidates.

On Tuesday morning, the New Jersey Globe reported that First Lady Tammy Murphy is having conversations with Democratic officials and donors about entering the U.S. Senate race.

Other possible candidates include Reps. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-Long Branch), Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair), and Josh Gottheimer (D-Wyckoff).

Murphy, 60, is a lock to win her fourth term in the Assembly in November.  The daughter of a U.S. Army veteran and Bronze Star recipient, she has worked at the New Jersey Schools Development Authority and as chief of staff to State Sen. Linda Greenstein (D-Plainsboro).

Mercer County Clerk Paula Sollami Covello said on Saturday that she was considering a run for Kim’s House seat.

Also on the list of potential 3rd district candidates: Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo (D-Hamilton), a building trades union official; Jeff Martin, the mayor of Hamilton and a U.S. Air Force veteran; East Windsor Mayor Janice Mironov, the Mercer County Democratic chair; and Marlboro Mayor Jon Hornik.