Phil Murphy

For other people named Phil Murphy, see Phil Murphy (disambiguation).

Phil Murphy
Murphy in 2023
56th Governor of New Jersey
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 16, 2018
LieutenantSheila Oliver (2018–2023)
Tahesha Way (2023–present)
Preceded byChris Christie
Chair of the National Governors Association
In office
July 15, 2022 – July 14, 2023
Preceded byAsa Hutchinson
Succeeded bySpencer Cox
United States Ambassador to Germany
In office
September 3, 2009 – August 26, 2013
PresidentBarack Obama
Preceded byWilliam R. Timken
Succeeded byJohn B. Emerson
Personal details
Born
Philip Dunton Murphy

(1957-08-16) August 16, 1957 (age 67)
Needham, Massachusetts, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
​
(m. 1993)​
Children4
ResidenceDrumthwacket
Education
Phil Murphy's voice
Phil Murphy and Congressman Bill Pascrell on NJ Transit
Recorded June 4, 2018

Philip Dunton Murphy (born August 16, 1957)[1][2] is an American politician, diplomat, and financier serving as the 56th governor of New Jersey. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected governor in 2017 and narrowly reelected in 2021. From 2009 to 2013, Murphy served as the U.S. ambassador to Germany under President Barack Obama.

Murphy had a 23-year career at Goldman Sachs, where he held several high-level positions and accumulated considerable wealth before retiring in 2006. He is involved in many civic organizations and philanthropic pursuits. He served as finance chairman for the Democratic National Committee in the mid-late 2000s under Howard Dean.[3][4] During his ambassadorial tenure, Murphy dealt with international fallout from the United States diplomatic cables leak.

While planning to run for governor of New Jersey, Murphy and his wife Tammy Murphy launched New Start New Jersey, a progressive organization. He defeated Republican, then-Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno, in the 2017 gubernatorial election with 56% of the vote.[5] In December 2019, Murphy became the chair of the Democratic Governors Association,[6] a position he held for a year.[7] He was reelected in an unexpectedly close race in 2021, defeating Republican nominee Jack Ciattarelli with 51.2% of the vote. Murphy is the first Democratic governor of New Jersey to win a second term since Brendan Byrne did so in 1977.[8] In July 2022, Murphy became the first National Governors Association chair from New Jersey.

  1. ^ "Our Campaigns - Candidate - Philip D. Murphy". Ourcampaigns.com. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference na was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ CatsLabs. "DNC Organization-2007 Edition". p2008.org. Archived from the original on April 1, 2018. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  4. ^ "DNC Finance team set". Politico. February 3, 2009. Archived from the original on September 22, 2018. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  5. ^ Finnigan, Brandon (June 6, 2017). "New Jersey Gubernatorial Primary (Democratic)". Decision Desk HQ. Archived from the original on October 23, 2017. Retrieved June 7, 2017.
  6. ^ Johnson, Brent; Arco, Matt (November 29, 2019). "Murphy prepares for a national role in Trump's re-election year, but says he will keep his focus on N.J." nj.com. Archived from the original on May 2, 2020. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  7. ^ Salant, Jonathan D. (December 3, 2020). "Murphy stepping down as Democratic governors chair". nj.com. Archived from the original on December 24, 2020. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  8. ^ "Phil Murphy wins reelection for governor in NJ over Jack Ciattarelli". WABC-TV. November 3, 2021. Archived from the original on November 3, 2021. Retrieved November 4, 2021.