Tammy Murphy was awarded the Camden County Democratic organization line, a move that had been widely anticipated for the last four months when powerbroker George E. Norcross III told South Jersey Democrats that he was inclined to support her for the seat held since 2006 by indicted U.S. Senator Bob Menendez.
The endorsement was announced at a county committee meeting this morning that Murphy spoke at. Rep. Andy Kim (D-Moorestown) did not attend.
Kim said he “asked to join the meeting and was denied.”
“Making endorsements without a fair process undermines our democracy,” Kim said. “Democrats need to do better.”
Another candidate, activist Patricia Campos-Medina, unsuccessfully sought admission into the meeting; she, too, was not invited by Camden Democrats to participate.
Norcross announced his likely endorsement of Murphy on November 9, days after he had a chicken dinner with Gov. Phil Murphy, and the governor’s top political advisor, George Helmy.
The day after Murphy announced her Senate bid, State Sen. Jim Beach (D-Voorhees), the Camden County Democratic chairman, endorsed her.
Camden County made up 7.5% of the total votes cast in the 2020 Democratic primary.
Murphy has won conventions in Bergen and Somerset counties, and the screening committee votes for Passaic and Union. She was awarded the line in Hudson, with Essex likely coming soon.
Kim has won conventions in Monmouth, Burlington, Hunterdon, Sussex, Warren, Ocean, and Mercer. He is favored to win this weekend in Atlantic and Morris.
