It’s now an open secret that Phil Murphy wants to run for president. New Jersey pollsters are even running polls about it.
Politico – and then many others – have reported that Murphy’s wife and a top political aide launched two Super PACs, which are ideal vehicles for a national campaign and a traditional first step in running for president. Further enabling his national ambitions, Murphy has secured both the chairmanship of the National Governors Association and the Democratic Governors Association.
…So, moving forward, New Jersey can expect to see its governor leaving New Jersey often and hitting the presidential campaign trail with his dark-money Super PACs in his wake.
As a non-partisan think-tank, the Sunlight Policy Center of New Jersey takes no position on a Murphy candidacy, but we want to remind him that before he leaves, he has a lot of unfinished business in his home state.
Read Sunlight’s latest report outlining FOUR major problems that remain unresolved by Murphy – and how in each case, rather than address the problem with legislation or other solutions, Murphy has chosen to side with his special-interest supporters, led by the most powerful special interest of them all, the NJEA. With his sights set on the Oval Office, Murphy appears content to kick the can down the road and let future New Jerseyans deal with the problems.
As Murphy crisscrosses the country drumming up political support, American voters should know how Murphy has actually governed the Garden State. The facts show that Murphy was twice elected with the support of deep-pocketed special interests like the NJEA and in return he has shaped his policies for their benefit. Major problems have been left unresolved because Murphy refuses to cross them.
So Sunlight asks: Now that New Jersey has apparently served its purpose as a platform for Murphy’s national ambitions, why would he change a thing?
As always, every one of Sunlight’s assertions is factual, researched, and footnoted.