Yesterday, Governor Murphy was declared the winner of New Jersey’s 2021 gubernatorial election. Governor Murphy’s win broke with 40 years of history: Not only was he the first Democrat since 1977 to be reelected to the Governorship of New Jersey, but his victory was the first time since 1981 that a party that had elected a new President the prior year was able to win the governorship of either New Jersey or Virginia. In response to the election results, New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP) releases the following statement:
Louis Di Paolo, Communications Director, NJPP:
“This week’s election results present the biggest opportunity for passing progressive policy in New Jersey’s history. While votes are still being tallied and some legislative seats have yet to be called, what’s clear is that Governor Murphy ran — and won — on his record of passing laws that advance equity and build a strong economy for working and middle-class families.
“This is a wake up call that the old rules of New Jersey politics do not hold: avoiding tough decisions and policy positions will not protect elected officials. Voters want candidates who have a vision for the future and support policies that will benefit them, whether it’s good-paying jobs, a stronger safety net, high-quality public schools, or a fairer tax code. Political candidates, regardless of their party affiliation, should not run from their achievements but proudly and enthusiastically run on them.
“We look forward to working with Governor Murphy and the newly elected Legislature in the upcoming session on tackling bold and popular policies that advance equity and support workers and their families.”
# # #
New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP) is a nonpartisan think tank that drives policy change to advance economic, social, and racial justice through evidence-based, independent research, analysis, and advocacy.
