Sumter remaining neutral in Senate primary for now

Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter (D-North Haledon), the chairwoman of the Legislative Black Caucus, indicated today that she’s remaining neutral in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate for now, making her the second top Black political leader in two days to decline to give First Lady Tammy Murphy their immediate support.

“Tammy Murphy is a candidate for U.S. Senate, and we will be looking forward to hearing her position on tackling the many critical issues that affect New Jerseyans,” Sumter said in an ambiguous statement released today. “As a candidate, it is critical that she has plans to reform and further progress our state.”

Yesterday, the Rev. Charles Boyer, a leading Black minister, similarly chose not to preemptively support Murphy, who is beginning to rack up endorsements from other party leaders around the state. Both Boyer and Sumter emphasized the need for New Jersey’s next senator – whoever they may be – to work with communities of color and fight for the issues important to them.

“The next candidate for US Senate must be willing to work for the support and trust of the people,” Sumter said. “We need a leader who understands the need of diversity and equity. This leader must have an understanding of the inequities that plague our state and the systemic vestiges that have harmed persons of color through policy.”

Sumter is a top Democrat in Passaic County, where county Democratic chairman John Currie is likely to back Murphy, and is one of the most progressive members of the entire legislature. She’s also a longtime backer of Gov. Phil Murphy, Tammy Murphy’s husband, and was considered for the position of lieutenant governor in his administration in both 2017 and 2023.

Murphy announced her Senate campaign on Wednesday, making her the second notable politician to jump in the race against indicted incumbent Bob Menendez; Rep. Andy Kim (D-Moorestown) had already been running for two months. The primary between Murphy and Kim is expected to be a competitive one, but Murphy is the favorite to get official county party support in most of the state.

Much of Murphy’s campaign launch has focused on her initiatives as First Lady, including a wide-ranging effort to improve maternal and infant health and lower the state’s maternal mortality rate – a particularly salient issue in Black communities, where new mothers tend to have disproportionately high death rates.