Tammy Murphy Drops Out of New Jersey Democratic Senate Primary, Shaping Race for Replacement

After months of intense campaigning, Tammy Murphy, the wife of New Jersey Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy, announced on Sunday her decision to withdraw from the state's Democratic Senate primary contest.

Reason for Withdrawal

In a statement released on Sunday, Murphy emphasized that she did not want to engage in a divisive and negative campaign. "It is clear to me that continuing in this race will involve waging a very divisive and negative campaign, which I am not willing to do," she stated.

Impact on the Race

With Tammy Murphy's exit from the Senate race, the path for Democratic Rep. Andy Kim to solidify his frontrunner status ahead of the primary has significantly widened. The winner of the June 4 election will be the favorite to replace indicted Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez.

Sen. Menendez's Decision

Menendez, who confirmed last week that he would not run for a fourth term as a Democrat, hinted at a potential run for his seat as an Independent. This development comes as Menendez and his wife face indictment on more than a dozen federal criminal counts, including allegations of bribery.

Statement from Murphy

Murphy also highlighted the national political landscape as a factor in her decision, referencing the upcoming election with Donald Trump on the ballot. "With Donald Trump on the ballot and so much at stake for our nation, I will not in good conscience waste resources tearing down a fellow Democrat," she added in her announcement.

Response from the Murphy Campaign

The Murphy campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding Tammy Murphy's withdrawal from the Senate primary.