Carol Murphy enters race for Andy Kim’s House seat

Carol Murphy, the majority whip of the New Jersey State Assembly and a staunch advocate for abortion rights and fair wages for the middle class, entered the race for an open congressional seat in New Jersey’s 3rd district this afternoon.

Murphy wants to succeed Rep. Andy Kim (D-Moorestown), who announced last month that he would give up his House seat after three terms to seek the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Bob Menendez.

“I’ll bring a fresh perspective as the first woman from South Jersey ever to serve in the United States House of Representatives.  I will be a fierce advocate and never back down from those trying to divide our nation,” she said.  “As your congresswoman, I’ll fight like hell for women, veterans, seniors, the middle class, and our democracy.

The 3rd district includes Burlington County and parts of Mercer and Monmouth counties.  Murphy comes from Mount Laurel, one of the biggest towns in Burlington, which has about 68% of the Democratic primary voters.

The seat became considerably more Democratic after redistricting, with heavily Republican Ocean County removed, but it is not a general election lock.  Joe Biden won 56.4% in the current 3rd in 2020, and Kim held the seat last year with 55.5%,  but Republican Jack Ciattarelli took 48.9% in the district when he challenged Gov. Phil Murphy in 2021.

Murphy, 60, was elected to the Assembly in 2017 after serving as chief of staff to State Sen. Linda Greenstein (D-Plainsboro) and as community relations manager for the New Jersey Schools Development Authority.  She’s on the ballot next month as a candidate for a fourth term in a safe Democratic district.

Kim’s announcement in advance of the November mid-term elections jump-started the race for his seat.

“As a woman I know in the arena of politics and government, if I did not clearly state my intentions, there certainly would be others suggesting that I wait my turn,” Murphy said.  “That was not going to happen as I know running to be the first ever woman to serve in the United States House of Representatives from South Jersey the glass ceiling doesn’t wait to be shattered.”

Still, Murphy said she remains focused on helping Democrats in key races but could not delay the start of her campaign for a seat that could be critical to her party retaking the House majority in 2024.

In an announcement video, Murphy said she was inspired to enter public service by her father, a career U.S. Army soldier who served in Korea and Vietnam and was a victim of Agent Orange.

“That’s why I’ve worked so hard for the middle class, finding solutions to our biggest problems, so our seniors can afford their medicine, so our New Jersey schools can teach the next generation of innovators and job creators, so our workers can stay safe on the job and earn a wage that puts food on the table with a retirement that offers financial security,” Murphy said. “I was proud to help lead the effort to codify abortion rights into state law, to restore funding for women’s health care and expand paid leave.”

Other Democrats are looking closely at the race, including Senate Majority Whip Troy Singleton (D-Delran), Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo (D-Hamilton), and Mercer County Clerk Paula Sollami Covello.

Just seven women have represented New Jersey in Congress since the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920; none of them have been from South Jersey.

Murphy, who is not related to the governor, has endorsed Kim for the U.S. Senate.