First Lady and Senate candidate Tammy Murphy has parted ways with her campaign manager, Max Glass, as she faces an uphill battle for the Democratic nomination to succeed Bob Menendez in the US Senate.
Murphy announced her Senate candidacy following the indictment of Sen. Menendez on several charges, including conspiracy to commit bribery and conspiracy to commit honest services fraud. Menendez has denied any wrongdoing and has indicated his intentions to seek re-election in 2024 – though he has no shot at winning the Democratic nomination.
Murphy entered the race last November and was initially viewed as a frontrunner for the seat, leveraging her relationships within the Democratic Party and quickly garnering endorsements from a significant number of Democratic officials across the state, including most of New Jersey’s Democratic House delegation.
However, Murphy’s campaign has faced major challenges. Rep. Andy Kim has emerged as a formidable primary opponent, and he’s leading Murphy in early polling. A recent Fairleigh Dickinson University poll showed Kim ahead by 12 points, though a notable portion of respondents remained undecided.
The dynamics of the primary race saw a major twist when Kim clinched victory at the Monmouth County Democratic convention, securing the official county party endorsement. The same results played out again today in Burlington County – another blow to the staggering Murphy campaign.