New Jersey first lady Tammy Murphy is suspending her campaign for Bob Menendez’s Senate seat, she announced Sunday.
“After many busy, invigorating, and yes, challenging months, I am suspending my Senate campaign today,” she said in a video posted on X.
“I have been genuine and factual throughout, but it is clear to me that continuing in this race will involve waging a very divisive and negative campaign, which I am not willing to do.”
“And with Donald Trump on the ballot and so much at stake for our nation, I will not in good conscience waste resources tearing down a fellow Democrat,” she added.
Democratic Rep. Andy Kim, who’s also vying for the Senate seat, had asked the court for a preliminary request banishing the so-called party line; a ballot structure that allows county leaders to give preferential placement to their endorsed primary candidate.
But the judge in the case was concerned, and the defendants had argued, that the time frame was too tight to make such a change. But Murphy is out now, so the change is not as urgent as it was when she was running.
“We will continue our efforts to strengthen our democracy in New Jersey while we come together to stand up against the dangerous agenda pushed by Trump,” Kim said in a statement Sunday.
The congressman praised Murphy as “a voice for progress and public service in our state,” adding, “I respect her decision to carry on that work as First Lady.”
Murphy, the wife of two-term Gov. Phil Murphy, entered the Democratic primary in November as a first-time candidate with previous associations with GOP politics.
