Long Branch, NJ – New Jersey First Landy Tammy Murphy suffered an embarrassing defeat at the Monmouth County Democratic convention.
The defeat strikes a blow for Tammy Murphy and her husband, Governor Phil Murphy as it happened on the first couple’s home turf, Monmouth County. The governor and his wife live in Middletown.
The convention was held at the Portuguese Club, U.S. Rep. Andy Kim emerged victorious over First Lady Tammy Murphy for the coveted top spot on the Monmouth County Democratic line for the upcoming June primary. The convention, which saw attendance from more than 800 members of local Democratic parties ranging from mayors to residents, ended with Kim securing a landslide victory.
The battle for the nomination to replace incumbent Sen. Bob Menendez, who faces federal corruption charges and has yet to announce his re-election plans, drew a wide array of candidates. Alongside Kim and Murphy, labor organizer Patricia Campos-Medina and several other hopefuls threw their hats in the ring. Menendez has denied all allegations of wrongdoing.
Kim’s win was decisive, with a final tally of 265 votes against Murphy’s 181. Murphy, married to Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy and backed by a substantial list of endorsements from party leaders across New Jersey, faced an unexpected setback. Campos-Medina garnered 20 votes in the contest.
The convention’s high turnout, with more than half of registered members participating and casting secret votes, underscores the event’s importance in the lead-up to the June primary.