TRENTON, NJ – New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy boasted that the Garden State is the country’s most progressive state in America, but defending the party line, which protects political party bosses and, according to opponents, creates an unfair playing field for the ‘little people’ trying to get their foot into the political door.
Progressive Democrat U.S. Senate candidate Andy Kim fueled the battle against the party line. Kim, running against the governor’s wife Tammy, who has since dropped out of the race, argued against the process in securing party line nomination across the state and the design of the state’s voting ballot.
Murphy said the party line has served him and New Jersey progressives well.
“I frankly think the line has served us pretty well,” Murphy said. “Progressives who are out there trying to look at whether or not they got a good government … I’d like them to find a more progressive government in America than what they got the past 6½ years, with yours truly elected twice.”
Kim, on the other hand celebrated his victory against the New Jersey party line, the only state in America whose election ballots include lines that allow for ‘lazy voting’, often referred to as voting ‘down the party line’.
“Today has been a surreal experience to say the least. Seeing something “impossible” happen leaves you with that feeling. It is a humble honor to share in today’s news with grassroots organizers and leaders who made it possible in the first place. We still have obstacles and challenges ahead, but I promise you I will keep fighting to do everything I can to permanently fix our broken politics,” he said. “I won’t stop, and I know you won’t either. We fight not just for fair elections but all other important reforms needed to heal our democracy. So let’s use the progress today to recommit ourselves to fighting for the change we need in NJ and our country.”