New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has been reelected, defeating his Republican challenger, Jack Ciatterelli. In a tight race, Murphy won by about 40,000 votes.
In a statement, AFSCME President Lee Saunders credited working families for helping to deliver Murphy’s victory, as well as victories for Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver and pro-worker legislators.
“Working people in New Jersey have once again chosen a pro-worker trifecta to lead the state for the next few years,” said Saunders. “AFSCME members provided countless boots on the ground during this campaign, and we were instrumental in mobilizing, organizing and turning out working people to make the difference in this close election.”
Murphy and the legislature have been strong union allies, consistently standing up for the rights of working people and helping pave the way for AFSCME’s growth in the Garden State. In his first months in office in 2018, Murphy negotiated a contract with AFSCME state employees, a breath of fresh air after years of attacks on public service workers by former Gov. Chris Christie.
Saunders said that Murphy’s victory is a call to answer many of the challenges facing New Jersey’s working families.
“Make no mistake about it: we have a lot of work ahead of us,” Saunders said. “As we continue rebuilding from the pandemic, AFSCME will continue partnering with Governor Phil Murphy, Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver and New Jersey legislators to level the playing field for working families. From education to public health to transportation, it has never been more urgent for the governor and legislature to continue investments in the vital public services our communities need.”