Gov. Phil Murphy supports the continuation of New Jersey’s county line system, offering a more specific answer to a question asked earlier today during a statehouse news conference.
“We have had laws on the books for decades that have allowed candidates to bracket together. The rationale for the laws is that candidates running together signal to the voters that they share the same beliefs and principles,” Murphy told the New Jersey Globe this evening. “Our administration is defending those laws in court as we always do.”
Progressive leaders have filed a lawsuit asking a federal judge to declare the lines unconstitutional.
Asked whether he supported organization lines and wanted them abolished, Murphy had initially declined to answer.
Murphy’s redefined position comes at a time when First Lady Tammy Murphy is considering a bid for the United States Senate. If she does run, she is expected to seek endorsements from county Democratic organizations.
Two Democratic statewide candidates, Rep. Andy Kim (D-Moorestown), who is running for U.S. Senate next year, and Jersey City mayor Steven Fulop, who is running for governor in 2025 – have recently indicated their support for abolishing the line. Murphy now joins a potential gubernatorial candidate, Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-Wyckoff), in support of the line. Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair), who is also mulling a run for governor, has not indicated a position.
Party leaders in nearly every New Jersey county typically designate a preferred candidate for every office, who then gets a preferable placement on the ballot. Those candidates historically have a better chance of winning.
Murphy entered New Jersey politics as an outsider in 2017 but wound up becoming the organization candidate and worked within the system Democrats had in place.