New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has never been shy about his admiration for California. From his progressive policy pushes to his frequent nods to the Golden State’s approach on climate, taxes, and social programs, it’s clear he sees California as a shining beacon of governance. Yet, there’s a nagging question that lingers for many Garden State residents: If Murphy loves California so much, why didn’t he just pack his bags and head west when he left Massachusetts instead of settling in New Jersey?
It’s a fair question. Murphy, a Massachusetts native and former Goldman Sachs executive, had the resources and mobility to plant his flag anywhere when he transitioned from the private sector to public life. California, with its sprawling coastline, tech-driven economy, and liberal ethos, seems like a natural fit for a man of his ambitions and worldview. Instead, he chose New Jersey—a state with its own unique character, but one that’s often overshadowed by its louder neighbors, New York and Pennsylvania. So why here?
The cynic might argue it was a calculated move. New Jersey, with its dense population and proximity to power centers like Manhattan and D.C., offered a quicker path to political prominence than California’s crowded field of ambitious Democrats. In 2006, when Murphy bought his Middletown mansion, New Jersey was a state ripe for a wealthy outsider to make a mark—less saturated with political heavyweights than California, where the likes of Gavin Newsom and Nancy Pelosi already held sway. Maybe Murphy saw an opening here that he couldn’t find amid the palm trees and Hollywood glitz.
Or perhaps it’s simpler: New Jersey was a compromise. Close to his East Coast roots, it offered a blend of suburban charm and urban grit—a stepping stone between the Boston Brahmin life he knew and the West Coast utopia he admired. He could enjoy the trappings of a quieter state while still jetting off to Davos or Sacramento to rub elbows with the progressive elite. But if that’s the case, why spend his governorship trying to turn New Jersey into a mini-California, complete with hefty tax hikes, ambitious green energy mandates, and a regulatory zeal that sometimes feels more Silicon Valley than Shore?
New Jerseyans aren’t blind. They see the California playbook in Murphy’s policies—the $15 minimum wage, the push for sanctuary state status, the aggressive climate goals that echo Sacramento’s emissions obsession. And they feel it in their wallets, too, as property taxes creep ever higher and the cost of living starts to rival the Bay Area’s. For a state already grappling with its own identity—caught between Philly cheesesteaks and Big Apple swagger—this westward tilt can feel like a betrayal of what makes New Jersey, well, New Jersey.
If Murphy’s heart was set on California’s model, he could’ve spared us the experiment and just moved there. Imagine it: Governor Murphy sipping kombucha in Marin County, championing electric cars without subjecting Jersey drivers to yet another toll hike. Instead, he’s here, remaking our state in an image that doesn’t quite fit—too sunny for our gray winters, too sprawling for our tight-knit towns.
Maybe he stayed because he saw potential in New Jersey’s quirks—a chance to prove his vision could thrive outside California’s bubble. Or maybe he just liked the bagels. Whatever the reason, as his tenure drags on, more residents might wish he’d taken the Pacific Coast Highway instead of the Turnpike. If you love California that much, Governor, there’s still time to make the move.
We’ll manage.
Rick J. / Old Bridge
