West Deptford's Stephen Sweeney Won't Run For Governor

State Sen. President Stephen Sweeney announced on Thursday morning that he will not run for governor next year.

“It is no secret that I seriously considered running and I believe I would have been able to win the general election and return the Governor’s mansion to Democratic control. As a proud Ironworker for almost 40 years, I understood the hard work it would take to win,” Sweeney said in a statement. “However, in the last few days it has become clear that Phil Murphy has been able to secure substantial support from Democratic and community leaders that would make my bid all but impossible.”

Sweeney (D-3) said he will run for re-election in the Senate, and believes he has the support from his party to maintain his position as Senate President.

“I am proud of the record I have built as the Senate leader, from raising the minimum wage and working to secure the promises made to pensioners and seniors, to enacting significant bail reform and ‘banning the box,’ to increasing public safety and making college more affordable for New Jersey students and their families. The difficult choices my colleagues and I have made in recent years will make New Jersey a better, stronger and more financially secure place for Phil Murphy to lead as Governor.”

Murphy picked up several endorsements on Thursday.

Murphy has never held elected office. He is a former Goldman Sachs executive and U.S. ambassador to Germany.

The New Jersey governor's election is November 7, 2017. The Democratic and Republican primary election is earlier, in June of 2017.

On the Republican side, state Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli (R-16) announced last week he is running as a Republican for governor.

Sweeney was elected to the Senate in 2002, and has served as Senate President since 2010.

Sweeney, of West Deptford, was a Gloucester County Freeholder from 1997-2010.

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