Kim nabs big early win over Tammy Murphy in N.J.’s heated Senate primary for Menendez seat

First Lady Tammy Murphy speaks to the crowd at the Monmouth County Democratic Party convention Saturday at the Portuguese Club of Long Branch.

New Jersey’s high-stakes Democratic U.S. Senate primary kicked into high gear Saturday as U.S. Rep. Andy Kim scored a surprisingly big victory over First Lady Tammy Murphy in a major early test of their fight for the seat long held by indicted fellow Democrat Robert Menendez.

Kim, 41, a three-term congressman, won the backing of the Democratic Party in Monmouth County — Murphy’s home turf — during its convention in Long Branch as hundreds of local officials and rank-and-file committee members packed into an unseasonably warm ballroom about a mile from the ocean to endorse a candidate for the June 4 primary.

It’s the year’s first open Democratic county convention in a state where local parties play a sizable role in elections. Most county parties pick a preferred candidate for top placement, known as “the county line,” on the primary ballot — a controversial system that’s the only of its kind in the nation.

Kim won Monmouth‘s line Saturday as he and Murphy — the wife of Gov. Phil Murphy — jockey for momentum in the primary for the Democratic nomination to replace Menendez, who has not said whether he will run for re-election but has seen his poll numbers and support from party leaders plummet as he faces federal corruption charges.

Whoever wins the primary is the favorite in November because blue New Jersey hasn’t elected a Republican to the U.S. Senate since 1972.

“We’re fired up,” Kim told reporters after nabbing 265 votes at the convention, compared to Murphy’s 181, at the Portuguese Club of Long Branch. “What I think this very clearly does is it shows there’s nothing inevitable about this race. … We’re the campaign that has the energy.”

A third candidate, labor leader Patricia Campos-Medina, came in third with 20 votes. A fourth, activist Lawrence Hamm, withdrew from the convention. Menendez also did not compete.

A few hours earlier Saturday, Murphy won the line in a different county, Passaic, where Democrats use a committee to privately screen candidates and choose a favorite. That county’s share of Democratic voters in the state is actually larger than Monmouth’s.

Alex Altman, a Murphy campaign spokeswoman, said in a statement the first lady is “thrilled by the groundswell of support” she has received across the state. She also said Murphy is “grateful” for the votes she received in Monmouth and congratulated Kim on a “hard-fought win.”

“She looks forward to continuing her work to build a strong coalition across the state and earning the support of New Jersey voters,” Altman added.

Still, even if symbolic, Saturday’s outcome in Monmouth is a boost for Kim, who has painted his campaign as a grassroots-styled attempt to overcome the state’s history of machine politics.

Kim entered the day with a double-digit lead over Murphy in the race’s most recent poll. But Murphy has wracked up endorsements from many of the state’s most prominent Democrats, as well as church leaders and labor unions. Critics say she has been bolstered by her husband’s name and office, though she and the governor sharply dispute claims of nepotism. The Murphys are also top-flight fundraisers.

U.S. Rep. Andy Kim speaks to the crowd at the Monmouth County Democratic Party convention Saturday at the Portuguese Club of Long Branch.

The location of Kim’s win Saturday is notable, as well. A third of his 3rd congressional district is made up of towns in Monmouth. But Murphy and her family have lived for 25 years in Middletown, the county’s largest municipality.

The race, though, is far from over. There will be similar conventions and similar votes in several other counties across the state in the coming weeks. Murphy is poised to receive the line in big counties such as Essex and Hudson after receiving endorsements from their leaders.

Officials said this year’s Monmouth convention was larger than usual, largely because of the intense attention the Senate race has received. The line to get in stretched out the door. Many people had to stand. Bottles of water were handed out as the crowded room got sweaty despite it being February.

Gov. Murphy, wearing a black fleece, was among those who walked around the room greeting party members. He also got a vote as a member of the county’s Democratic organization. So did the Murphy’s eldest son, Josh Murphy, another member.

The candidates each got a few minutes to address the crowd.

Kim noted the U.S. is facing challenges “deep to the bone” and voters need to ask themselves “who is ready to lead our country.”

“All I’m asking for is a fair shot,” he added. “Vote your conscience.”

Tammy Murphy, who has never held elected office before but has been a visible part of her husband’s administration, said she is “deeply concerned about the world we are handing off to the next generation.”

“I want to go to Washington D.C. because we need more ticked-off moms who are gonna focus on the priorities of the future,” Murphy added.

She and Campos-Medina are seeking to become the first woman in New Jersey history to serve in the U.S. Senate.

Campos-Medina urged voters that supporting “the status quo” would help former President Donald Trump and the Republican Party take over Congress.

“This Jersey Latina girl is ready,” she said. “I am Trump’s worst nightmare.”

After the speeches, the county party’s committee members lined up to cast their votes at machines covered by curtains. Officials are quick to trumpet their convention process as the most transparent in the state and note members cast their votes via private ballot, giving them freedom to make their decisions without fear of retribution.

Margaret Beekman, 71, of Freehold, backed Kim for his “political experience.” Miriam Falk of Freehold noted the congressman is “very caring.”

Aleathea E. “Pepper” Riley of Long Branch said she supported Murphy because “women have a different outlook on things because they’re used to getting stuff done.”

“I think Andy Kim is terrific, but Tammy is from Monmouth,” Riley said. “She has done a lot here. She is wonderful as first lady.”

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Brent Johnson may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on X at @johnsb01.

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