New Jersey Governor Murphy Leveraging Position to Support Wife’s Senate Campaign

New Jersey Republicans are accusing Democrat Gov. Phil Murphy of using taxpayer resources to promote his wife’s U.S. Senate campaign, the New York Post reported.

Tammy Murphy is running for the seat currently occupied by embattled Sen. Robert Menendez. She’s competing against Rep. Andy Kim, D-N.J., and possibly Menendez in the Democratic Party primary.

Records show that the governor’s office has used public resources to champion Tammy Murphy’s accomplishments.

“We finally understand: all of these years Phil Murphy promised that to make things ‘Stronger and Fairer,’ he was talking about his own marital harmony — not New Jersey,” New Jersey Republican Party spokeswoman Alex Wilkes said, the Post reported Monday.

“His backwards policies have bankrupted everyone in this state who hasn’t already left, so it makes sense that he’s using the taxpayer dime to support this wife’s campaign: they’re some of the only ones left who can afford to stay here.”

Since Tammy Murphy announced her Senate run on Nov. 15, Gov. Murphy’s press office has issued press releases concerning the state’s first lady on the governor’s website.

The releases include:

• Jan. 23: “First Lady Tammy Murphy, DCF Commissioner Beyer, State Legislators and Others Join Together to Celebrate Launch of Family Connects NJ”
• Jan. 16: “First Lady Tammy Murphy Celebrates Signing of Doula Access Bill”
• Jan. 9: “First Lady Tammy Murphy Announces 2024 State of the State Address Special Guests”
• Dec. 13: “First Lady Tammy Murphy today announced that six public members have been appointed by Governor Phil Murphy to serve on the Board of the New Jersey Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority”
• Nov. 20: “At Maternal and Infant Health Roundtable Discussion at University Hospital, First Lady Tammy Murphy Announces Introduction of Doula Access Bill”

The governor’s office defended its promotion of Tammy Murphy’s work on policy issues, especially maternal health.

“First lady Tammy Murphy is proud to continue the impactful work she started six years ago through her Nurture NJ initiative to tackle our state’s maternal and infant health crisis and make New Jersey the safest and most equitable state in the nation to deliver and raise a baby,” Tyler Jones, a spokesperson for the governor’s office, told the Post.

In September, the U.S. Attorney’s office in Manhattan charged Menendez and his wife with bribery over their relationship with New Jersey businessmen. The couple was accused of accepting thousands of dollars in bribes in exchange for using the senator’s power and influence to seek to protect and enrich the businessmen, and benefit the government of Egypt.

Menendez was indicted this month on new allegations of making positive comments about Qatar in exchange for luxury items.