According to a spokesperson, the campaign manager for Tammy Murphy, the first lady of New Jersey, is stepping down following a tumultuous beginning to her Senate campaign.
Max Glass, who was announced as Murphy’s campaign manager in January, has recently departed. This departure comes at a crucial time, as important party conventions are taking place and Murphy is facing early challenges. Currently, she is trailing behind her primary opponent, Democratic Rep. Andy Kim, in public polling. Additionally, she suffered a significant setback in Monmouth County, her home for the past 25 years, losing an important early contest to Kim earlier this month.
The reason for Glass’ departure from the campaign was not given, as reported by The New York Times. As of now, there is no immediate replacement for the role.
“We deeply appreciate the dedication and enthusiasm that Max brought to our team, and we acknowledge the contributions he made in launching this campaign,” said spokesperson Alex Altman in a statement. “We have gained significant momentum and have a clear strategy to secure victory in the primary on June 4. Our ultimate goal is to make Tammy Murphy the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate in the upcoming November election.”
According to Altman, Saily Avelenda, who recently held the position of executive director of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee, has now joined the campaign as a consultant.
Tammy Murphy, who is the wife of Governor Phil Murphy, declared her candidacy for the Senate in November. This decision was made following the indictment of New Jersey’s long-standing senator, Bob Menendez. Menendez is facing accusations from federal prosecutors regarding his alleged acceptance of bribes in return for political assistance for local businesses and foreign entities. Despite the charges, Menendez has not yet ruled out the possibility of running for re-election.
After receiving immediate endorsements from key party leaders, Tammy Murphy emerged as the frontrunner in the race. The backing of these influential party figures, many of whom have financial stakes in state affairs, holds significant influence in Democratic primaries. As a result, Murphy is expected to secure advantageous placement on primary ballots in Democratic strongholds throughout New Jersey.
However, she has encountered severe backlash from certain progressives and has been accused of nepotism. On the other hand, Kim has made efforts to tap into grassroots support.
According to a recent poll conducted by Fairleigh Dickinson University, Kim is currently leading Murphy with 32 percent of the votes, while Murphy trails behind with 20 percent. Menendez, on the other hand, garnered 9 percent of the support. Patricia Campos Medina, a Democratic candidate and labor leader, secured 8 percent of the votes. It is worth noting that Larry Hamm, a prominent Newark activist, is also running for Senate as a Democrat but was not included in the poll.
Glass, when reached for comment, was unavailable to provide a response. As stated in his Linkedin profile, he possesses extensive experience leading campaigns for Democrats across various states including Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Kansas, Michigan, and North Carolina.
The Kim campaign chose not to provide any comments regarding the transition within the Murphy staff.
The Democratic conventions in Burlington and Hunterdon counties will take place this weekend, during which the parties will decide which candidate to endorse for the June 4 primary. This endorsement will determine the placement of candidates on the county line, a distinctive system in New Jersey that consolidates party-backed candidates on one line on the ballot, while others are listed separately.
The line, also known as the party conventions, gives a significant advantage to candidates, making them crucial in the primary. Moreover, considering that New Jersey has not elected a Republican to the Senate in fifty years, the candidate who emerges victorious in the primary is likely to succeed in the general election in November. Burlington County, which is Kim’s home county, is expected to favor him in winning party support.