Phil Murphy on disappointing 2024 results: “Everyone needs to look in the mirror”

After the 2024 general election, in which Republicans made shocking gains in New Jersey and Vice President Kamala Harris won the state only 52% to 47% against President-elect Donald Trump, the New Jersey Globe spoke with Gov. Phil Murphy about the reasons for the disappointing results and what the Democrats can learn for the coming years. The following interview has been edited for length and clarity.

New Jersey Globe: What is your first reaction to this election and this one in particular? surprisingly pro-Republican results we saw in New Jersey?

Governor Phil Murphy: We weren’t unique. Harris performed 10 to 12 points worse than Biden in 2020 in a number of big blue states, almost identically. I know that in addition to New Jersey, there are at least New York, Illinois, Maryland and California on this list. It’s not unique, and the reason I can say it’s not unique is that with the exception of Sue Altman and a couple of county races, we did really well, including where Trump won. Trump won Passaic County; We won three commission races and a sheriff race, to give one example. So it’s a mixed bag.

And I think in terms of the size of the price, it’s probably a combination of: the kitchen table – it’s the economy, stupid – immigration fears that are contributing to it; Security, crime, Trump is brilliant at all of this; Harris’ short runway, to introduce himself, only since July 21st; and the inability to even address a few things that she would have done differently than President Biden, whose numbers are not good, despite my opinion that he is a very consistent president. So it’s a combination of a lot of different things, none of it is really unique to New Jersey, but it’s all real.

I specifically looked at the numbers in heavily Hispanic areas like Hudson County and Passaic County, and it’s clear that Trump did unusually well in those communities. What do you think of it?

First of all, it is a fact. Second, some of these communities were already with him and the Republican Party forever and ever; The Cubans would be at the top of that list. But he expanded it to a pretty impressive result. I think it’s a combination of the things I just said. It is a shame for us as a party if we take any community for granted. The Latino community is crying out to not be taken for granted and to be heard, and I think at the end of the day it is Is the economy, stupid. There are real fears and concerns at the kitchen table that were not clearly addressed in the ticket. And we’d better be sober, accept it and think about what we’re going to do about it. The only thing I don’t know for sure: was it the messenger? Was it the core of what they stood for? Was it the message? It’s probably a little bit of everything. But I can tell you this: it’s real.

The next presidential election is still four years away, but New Jersey has elections every year; In 2025 and 2026, there will be significantly more opportunity for Democrats to either gain or lose ground in these communities. How do you think about these years? Do you think Democrats have the ability to turn back some of these voters?

One hundred percent. Time will tell whether we do it or not. But we have a good story. I know what our government has done: we’ve done a lot, and I would be on that list and running any day of the week. I am an optimist. I believe we can bring people home. Not to mention the fact that if Trump does even a fraction of the things he claims he will do, even if we don’t do a good job of bringing them home, they will scared Home – that’s my fear. But here too, time will tell. We have to execute. You can’t just say that and assume it will happen. You actually have to earn it. And I am confident that we can do that.

In terms of your own governorship, what impact do you think a Trump presidency will have next year on what you do and what New Jersey can accomplish?

To be determined. I’m probably one of the last governors to have had Donald Trump for three years. So we know what this playbook looks like: It attempts to balance opposing impulses applied situationally. When we are attacked, when our interests are attacked, when our values ​​are attacked, when members of our community are attacked, we will fight fiercely and use every weapon available: judiciary, bully pulpit, legislation, executive order, whatever. On the other hand, if both can be true, we know it can be true because we have done it – if there is common ground, we will be incredibly aggressive in trying to find that common ground. Check out the Portal North Bridge, which was given the green light by President Trump. This is a big deal for commuters. This will be finished next year. Look at the early months of Covid when we worked so well with his government in the midst of tragedy. So it will be a combination. I think there will be a lot of our work that will remain untouched; at least I hope so. And there will be some things that will be difficult. For example, offshore wind will be difficult. So we’ll see. I can tell you one thing: we will not start our final year, on January 20th, unprepared.

You mentioned a few possible criticisms of Harris’ campaign: it didn’t distance itself enough from Biden and the Democrats didn’t unite enough on economic issues. When you look specifically at Democrats in New Jersey, do you think there’s some of the messaging from the state party and the local parties that needs to change to be more successful in the future?

I think if you’re a Democrat in America today, November 6, 2024, whether you’re in New Jersey or wherever, if you’re not sober, look in the mirror and be cold-bloodedly honest with yourself – what ? Did I do right or wrong? How did I say it right or wrong? What should I have focused on, right or wrong? – You live in fantasy land. Everyone needs to look in the mirror, including yourself. And I suspect we will. We have always done this well as a party in Jersey and I see no reason why we will not do the same here.

When you look at yourself in the mirror, is there anything you would have done differently?

That’s a good question. I will fail the test I just gave Kamala Harris. Listen, I’ve been on the road – New Hampshire, Pennsylvania – we’ve done a number of Zooms in other places, my wife and I have raised a lot of money, we’ve presented political thoughts to the team. But there must be more that all of us, each of us, should and could have done.

You mentioned fundraising – the Democrats have had big fundraising advantages in many congressional races and the presidential race, but perhaps they haven’t all won as much as a result. Do you think the era in which large infusions of money into politics can win races is over?

It’s not over yet, but it’s a good reminder that money isn’t everything. You never want to disarm yourself unilaterally. Citizens United continues to be a terrible Supreme Court decision with enormous implications, but that is not why we lost. As you rightly point out, we made a lot of money.

Especially in the 7th district, the Democrats have raised a lot of money there; This was considered a very competitive race. Tom Kean Jr. ended Beat Sue Altman with a decent lead. Why do you think that was the case? And what do you think is the way forward for this district?

She ran a very good race. Here’s my bottom line: You can’t win this district if the top of the ticket does a dozen points worse than last time. If Kamala is competitive in this district, I think Sue wins, or at least she is competitive. But she was dragged down in a way that made it impossible for her to win. The answer is: If you have a powerful front-runner on the ticket in the future, it won’t be as Democratic as it once was, but it’s still a winnable district. Not easy, but winnable.

And do you think Democrats need to worry at all about any of the districts where they won surprisingly narrowly? Nellie Pou’s district?

I think if you don’t think about what happened yesterday – even if you won – you’re kidding yourself. Everyone needs to see this. In every district we won or lost, you have to ask yourself: Did I execute? Did we have the right team on site? Whatever the question may be.