TRENTON, NJ – New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy today received the endorsements of U.S. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, securing his party’s top-ranking approval.
“Governor Murphy is getting folks vaccinated to beat the pandemic,” President Biden said. “He’s delivering economic relief to working families and supports my plans to build back better by investing in our infrastructure and in our people – with child care, elder care, paid leave, and more.”
His opponent Jack Ciattarelli has yet to receive any major party endorsements, including that of former President Donald J. Trump. A Trump endorsement of Ciattarelli is unlikely as the candidate has called the President, “A charlatan unfit to be President.”
This week, Trump continued taking shots at Republicans like Ciattarelli who opposed him. Instead, Trump today endorsed a candidate in the Massachusetts 2022 Governor race against incumbent Republican Charlie Baker.
“Republican gubernatorial candidate Geoff Diehl of Massachusetts looks very much forward to his run against “RINO” Governor Charlie Baker, who has done nothing for the Republican Party and has driven Massachusetts energy costs into, by far, the highest in the Nation—monthly electric bills, and all else, are not even close to being where they should be,” Trump said.
Trump has yet to attack Ciattarelli, but his silence on the candidate has been deafening, but welcome for the establishment Republican who is trying to put as much distance between himself and the President, while still trying to appeal to Trump supporters at the same time.
Last week, when confronted about his attendance at a “Stop the Steal” rally held by Trump supporters, where he was the keynote speaker, Ciattarelli told Murphy, “I didn’t know.”
Murphy meanwhile is getting a progressive agenda boost by the attendance of both Biden and Harris in the Garden State. Biden toured areas of New Jersey flooded by Tropical Storm Ida last month. Harris will be in New Jersey on Friday.
During Biden’s visit, he was met by hecklers and Trump supporters, but that didn’t stop the embattled President from taking time to announce his endorsement of Murphy.
“I stood with him in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida as he’s taking on the climate crisis. From lowering the cost of health care to improving access to education, Phil delivers for the people,” Biden said.
“Governor Phil Murphy has done so much for the people of New Jersey,” Harris said in a video statement. “When he took office with Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver, he assembled a diverse team that represents the best of the Garden State. Since then he has raised the minimum wage. He has invested in public schools and clean energy. He is the partner President Joe Biden and I need in Trenton.”
Harris referred to Murphy as “my friend”.
“He is not afraid to confront injustice head-on to keep New Jersey moving forward,” she added.
Shortly after the Biden and Harris Endorsements, former President Trump announced a raffle for a “Trump Football” signed by the former President and former NFL star Herschel Walker who is running for office in Georgia under the Trump banner.
“It is an honor to receive this endorsement from my friends, President Biden and Vice President Harris,” said Governor Murphy. “We’re proving that when we work together, we can grow and strengthen the middle class, combat climate change, and lead a strong, equitable recovery that moves New Jersey forward.”
