First Lady Tammy Murphy, who ran for U.S. Senator Bob Menendez’s seat earlier this year but dropped out of the race before the primary, said today that she will not seek an appointment to the seat now that Menendez is resigning.
“While I’m grateful for the humbling support and outreach I’ve received since last year, I want to reiterate that I will not accept an appointment to the U.S. Senate,” Murphy said. “As I said in March, I am completely focused on the critical work of boosting infant and maternal health, combating climate change, and uplifting the voices of those in greatest need.”
Menendez, a three-term Democrat who was convicted last week on federal bribery charges, submitted a letter of resignation today effective August 20. That gives Gov. Phil Murphy, the first lady’s husband, the opportunity to appoint a new senator to fill out the remainder of Menendez’s term, which ends in January 2025.
Given that Tammy Murphy had been a candidate for the seat just a few months ago – and that she is, of course, a close confidant of the governor – she was viewed as a top contender for the appointment. Such a choice likely would have caused significant blowback over the optics of a sitting governor appointing his own wife, however, and the Murphys may have decided that a four-month Senate stint wasn’t worth the controversy.
With Murphy out of the running, alternate possible appointees include Lieutenant Gov. Tahesha Way, former Secretary of State Nina Mitchell Wells, U.S. District Court Judge Esther Salas, and potentially many others.
There’s also Rep. Andy Kim (D-Moorestown), the Democratic nominee for Menendez’s seat in this year’s election – and the man who successfully out-maneuvered the Murphys to win the Democratic nomination. Phil Murphy is unlikely to choose Kim, though, and has indicated he will instead select a caretaker appointee.
Regardless of whom the governor chooses, Tammy Murphy said she’s happy that New Jersey will have a refreshed Senate delegation after nearly a full year of legal drama surrounding Menendez.
“Given the news of Senator Bob Menendez’s resignation next month, I am thrilled that New Jersey will soon have the representation we need and deserve in the U.S. Senate,” she said. “I am confident the governor will appoint a steady hand to guide us over the coming months.”