Tammy Murphy (left); Andy Kim (right)
NEW JERSEY (KYW Newsradio) — Tammy Murphy and Andy Kim met for a debate Sunday night to distinguish themselves as the right person to replace embattled Senator Bob Menendez.
The debate, hosted by On New Jersey and the New Jersey Globe, asked the candidates what separates them from the other, and generally, both Democrats shared similar positions on policy, including abortion rights, universal healthcare, support for Ukraine, and peace in the Middle East.
Congressman Kim asked First Lady Murphy about her past as a registered Republican voter.
“Earlier in this debate, you talked about it as saying the Republican Party left you, the current Republican Party left you. But I have to be honest, that doesn’t sit well with me when I’m trying to think about what your positions are,” he said.
Murphy responded, saying, “Listen, I haven’t voted for a Republican in a general election in more than two decades. I’ve been a Democrat for 10 years. And please, I think you have to know my values are strong, they’re Democratic core values.”
She also criticized Kim for voting along with former president Donald Trump on a couple of past immigration laws.
A thorny issue
New Jersey has a one-of-a-kind system for primary elections, which gives favorable ballot positions decided by counties.
Kim said he wants to abolish that system and said he would share the line in every county with Murphy. She said the rules now are the rules. She is open to discussion on changing them but wants to move forward with the current format.
“We’re all working within the same system, and if there are improvements to be made, then let’s have the improvements. But right now, we’re in the middle of a campaign — let’s just move forward with the ground rules as we know them,” Murphy said.
News Related-
Russian court extends detention of Wall Street Journal reporter Gershkovich until end of January
-
Russian court extends detention of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, arrested on espionage charges
-
Israel's economy recovered from previous wars with Hamas, but this one might go longer, hit harder
-
Stock market today: Asian shares mixed ahead of US consumer confidence and price data
-
EXCLUSIVE: ‘Sister Wives' star Christine Brown says her kids' happy marriages inspired her leave Kody Brown
-
NBA fans roast Clippers for losing to Nuggets without Jokic, Murray, Gordon
-
Panthers-Senators brawl ends in 10-minute penalty for all players on ice
-
CNBC Daily Open: Is record Black Friday sales spike a false dawn?
-
Freed Israeli hostage describes deteriorating conditions while being held by Hamas
-
High stakes and glitz mark the vote in Paris for the 2030 World Expo host
-
Biden’s unworkable nursing rule will harm seniors
-
Jalen Hurts: We did what we needed to do when it mattered the most
-
LeBron James takes NBA all-time minutes lead in career-worst loss
-
Vikings' Kevin O'Connell to evaluate Josh Dobbs, path forward at QB