Middletown's Phil Murphy Racks Up Endorsements for Governor

Middletown, NJ - Phil Murphy, the former U.S. ambassador who lives in Middletown and is running for New Jersey governor, is racking up the endorsements.

The Middlesex County Democratic Organization, under chairman Kevin McCabe, endorsed him Thursday, as did Monmouth County Democratic Chairman Vin Gopal and the Monmouth County Democratic Party. Murphy, a former Goldman Sachs executive, is running for New Jersey governor as a Democrat. The New Jersey governor's election is November 7, 2017. The Democratic and Republican primary election is earlier, in June of 2017.

Thursday's massive swelling of support for Murphy derailed state Senate president Steve Sweeney's hopes of running for governor. Many of the state's political watchers assumed it would be a North Jersey-South Jersey Democratic war, with Sweeney also running as a Dem. But on Thursday, Sweeney abruptly said he would not be running, in part due to all the support Murphy has garnered.

"I'm a realist," Sweeney told NJ Advance Media on Thursday morning. "The party is coalescing around Phil ... 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. 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."

On the Republican side, state Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli (who represents South Brunswick, Princeton, Montgomery, Hillsborough, Millstone, Flemington and Branchburg) announced last week he is running as a Republican for governor. Other names floated for the Republican ticket include Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno and Thomas Kean, Jr., Senate Minority Leader.

Murphy has never held elected office, but became very wealthy working on Wall Street, where he led Goldman's German, Austrian and Swiss operations and later served as president of its Asian branch before retiring in 2006. He and his wife, Tammy, became major Democratic donors and in 2009, he was appointed by President Obama to be the U.S. ambassador to Germany. He held that post until May of 2013, at which point he, his wife and four children settled in Middletown.

Murphy's father did not graduate from high school and his mom was a secretary. He has said that, growing up, his family could be considered middle class "on a good day." He graduated from Harvard and the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

"Growing up, our family lived paycheck to paycheck. I put myself through college and grad school," Murphy has said. "Then I built a successful career learning how economies grow and create jobs."

Marlboro Mayor Jon Hornik also endorsed Murphy, as did U.S. Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-Middlesex/Monmouth).

“New Jersey is in need of honest leadership that works in partnership with our communities,” Mayor Hornik said. “I believe Phil Murphy will revitalize New Jersey’s economy, fully support our municipalities and schoolchildren, and bring integrity back to the Governor’s Office.”

“Mayor Hornik is one of New Jersey’s brightest local leaders and I am honored to have his support,” Murphy said. “In order to turn New Jersey around, we will need to rely on strong leaders like Mayor Hornik. I thank him for his endorsement, and I look forward to working with him.”

Below is a full list of the 120 political leaders who endorsed Murphy Thursday:

Monmouth County Democratic Chairman Vin Gopal
Monmouth County Democratic Vice-Chairwoman Mary Foster
Monmouth County Democrats Treasurer David Brown

United States Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-Long Branch)
State Assemblyman Eric Houghtaling (D-Neptune)
State Assemblywoman Joann Downey (D-Freehold Township)
Former Monmouth County Freeholder John D'Amico

2016 County-Wide Candidates
Jeff Cantor, Vincent Solomeno, Matt Doherty & Sue Fulton

MAYORS
Aberdeen Mayor Fred Tagliarini
Asbury Park Mayor John Moor
Atlantic Highlands Mayor Randi LeGrice
Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty
Lake Como Mayor Brian Wilton
Loch Arbour Mayor Paul Fernicola
Manasquan Mayor Ed Donovan
Marlboro Mayor Jon Hornik
Matawan Mayor Joe Altomonte
Neptune Mayor Kevin McMillan
Ocean Twp. Mayor Chris Siciliano
Oceanport Mayor Jay Coffey
Red Bank Mayor Pat Menna
Roosevelt Mayor Jeff Ellentuck
Spring Lake Heights Mayor Tom O'Brien

MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS
Aberdeen Councilman Robert Swindle
Aberdeen Councilman Arthur Hirsch
Aberdeen Councilman Joseph Martucci
Aberdeen Councilwoman Margaret Montone
Aberdeen Councilman Greg Cannon
Aberdeen Councilwoman Connie Kelly
Allentown Council President William Borkowski
Allentown Councilman Rob Schmidt
Asbury Park Councilwoman Yvonne Clayton

Atlantic Highlands Council President Roy Dellosso
Atlantic Highlands Councilman Chuck Lero
Belmar Councilwoman Janis Blackburn
Belmar Council President Brian McGovern
Belmar Councilwoman Jennifer Nicolay
Belmar Councilman Tom Brennan
Fair Haven Councilman Aimee Humphries
Freehold Borough Councilman Kevin Kane
Freehold Borough Councilman George Schnurr
Hazlet Township Committeeman James DiNardo
Hazlet Township Committeewoman Barbara Ronchetti
Keyport Councilman Matt Goode
Keyport Council President Joe Sheridan
Keyport Councilwoman Sophia Lamberson
Keyport Councilman Isaiah Cooper
Lake Como Councilman Michael Noonan
Lake Como Councilwoman Hawley Scull
Lake Como Councilman Doug Witte
Manalapan Township Committeeman David Kane
Manasquan Councilman Michael Mangan
Matawan Councilman Mike Vergaretti
Matawan Councilman Nick Reeve
Marlboro Councilman Jeff Cantor
Marlboro Councilwoman Carol Mazola
Marlboro Councilman Scott Metzger
Marlboro Councilwoman Randi Marder
Marlboro Councilman Mike Scalea
Neptune Deputy Mayor Dr. Michael Brantley
Neptune Township Committeeman Nick Williams
Neptune Township Committeewoman Carol Rizzo
Neptune Township Committeeman Robert Lane
Ocean Township Deputy Mayor William Garofalo
Red Bank Councilwoman Kathy Horgan
Red Bank Councilman Ed Zipprich
Roosevelt Councilwoman Peggy Malkin
Sea Bright Councilman Marc Leckstein
Sea Bright Councilman Charles Rooney
Shrewsbury Township Committeeman Ed Nolan
Spring Lake Heights Councilman Art Herner
Spring Lake Heights Councilman Tom Vorbach
Union Beach Councilman Tim Perrella
Union Beach Councilman Jeff Williams

MUNICIPAL CHAIRS
Aberdeen Democratic Chairman Greg Cannon
Allentown Democratic Co-Chairs Alice Lloyd and Rob Schmidt
Asbury Park Democratic Chair Joe Grillo
Atlantic Highlands Democratic Chairman Chair Regina Hawley-Keelen
Avon-By-The-Seat Democratic Chairwoman Patricia Sheehan
Belmar Democratic Chairwoman Claire Deicke
Brielle Democratic Chairman John Pirnat
Bradley Beach Democratic Chair Steve Lozowick
Eatontown Democratic Chairman Bill Robinson
Farmingdale Democratic Chair Beau Byrtus
Freehold Borough Democratic Chair Kevin Kane
Freehold Township Democratic Chair Haven Franklin
Hazlet Democratic Chair Audrey Tyler
Highlands Democratic Chair Chris Francy
Holmdel Democratic Chair Larry Luttrell
Howell Democratic Chairman John McCabe
Interlaken Democratic Chairman Bob Napoli
Keyport Democratic Chairwoman Joy Johnson

Loch Arbour Democratic Chairman Paul Fernicola
Manalapan Democratic Chairman David Kane
Manasquan Democratic Chairman Michael Mangan
Marlboro Democratic Chair Lynn Franco
Matawan Democratic Chair Joe Altomonte
Neptune Township Democratic Chairman Jim Mowczan
Ocean Township Democratic Chairman Don Yacavone
Oceanport Democratic Chairman Mike Sikand
Red Bank Democratic Chairman Ed Zipprich
Roosevelt Democratic Chairwoman Peggy Malkin
Rumson Democratic Chairman Michael Steinhorn
Sea Girt Democratic Chair Altha Morton
Sea Bright Democratic Chairman Marc Leckstein
Shrewsbury Borough Democratic Chairwoman Norma Rosenbloom
Shrewsbury Township Democratic Chairman Ed Nolan
Spring Lake Heights Democratic Chairwoman Eileen Eilenberger
Tinton Falls Democratic Chairman Sam Loffredo
Union Beach Democratic Chairmann Ken Connors

Wall Township Democratic Chairman Eric Brophy