With a well-produced video, New Jersey’s first lady Tammy Murphy on Wednesday officially launched her campaign for the seat now held by indicted U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), who’s embroiled in a corruption and bribery scandal and has yet to say whether he’ll seek reelection.
Candidate Murphy said in the video that she wants to focus on big issues, “…from gun violence and mass shootings, to a warming planet that threatens our children’s futures, to extreme politicians who want to defund Planned Parenthood…”
The 58-year-old Republican-turned-Democrat highlighted her family, her record on promoting maternal health care and her work adding climate change to New Jersey’s school curriculum standards. She did not mention Menendez by name, but her video more than made the point, showing a shot of Menendez while she said, “Washington is filled with too many people more interested in getting rich or getting on camera, than in getting things done for you.”
That drew a blistering response from Menendez, who said Gov. Phil Murphy had pushed him to resign because the governor “…had a personal, vested interest in doing so…”
U.S. Rep. Andy Kim (D-3rd) was the first Democrat to declare his candidacy for the seat after Menendez refused to resign. Other likely opponents include labor leader Patricia Campos-Medina and activist Larry Hamm.
