Phil Murphy on Government Reform

	Phil Murphy on Government Reform

Helped a record number of eligible voters cast ballots

We have set the national standard for protecting the integrity of our democratic process. From expanding early in-person voting, to restoring voting rights to more than 80,000 people on probation or parole, to establishing automatic voter registration, we have helped a record number of eligible voters turn out to cast their ballots. In fact, just this past November, we saw more voters turn out in a gubernatorial election than ever before. Source: 2026 State of the State Address to New Jersey legislature , Jan 13, 2026

Easing outdated restrictions can lead to affordable housing

This year, I am calling on the Legislature to reform our state's zoning and permitting laws, with a number of proposals led by Senator Troy Singleton and his colleagues, so we can make it easier to build new housing in the communities where it's needed most. By cutting red tape and easing outdated restrictions, we can build potentially thousands of new, affordable housing units over the next decade. Source: 2025 State of the State Address to New Jersey legislature , Jan 14, 2025

Time to make same-day voter registration a reality

And just as the people of New Jersey are entitled to a safe, livable planet--they are also entitled to the most fundamental right we have as Americans: the right to vote. Thanks to the leadership of Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of State Tahesha Way, voting rights in New Jersey are more secure than ever before. But even so, we have more work to do to expand access to the ballot box. It is time to pass legislation that will make same-day voter registration a reality in the Garden State. Source: 2025 State of the State Address to New Jersey legislature , Jan 14, 2025

I support same-day voter registration in New Jersey

We have implemented automatic voter registration. Instituted early in-person voting. Established online voter registration. And restored voting rights to more than 80,000 of our neighbors on probation or parole. I continue to support passing same-day voter registration in New Jersey. Nobody should ever be denied access to the ballot box because they missed a deadline or forgot to send in paperwork. Same-day voter registration will help prevent that. Source: 2024 State of the State Address to the N.J. legislature , Jan 9, 2024

Undertake ethics reform; address pernicious sexism

It's been more than a decade since the executive and legislative branches undertook comprehensive ethics reform. And, nothing--I repeat, nothing--more exemplifies that need to change the longstanding culture than the pernicious sexism and abuse that still creeps across these hallways, at conferences, and in meeting rooms. I am calling for us all to work together to tear down the existing system and replace it with one that treats everyone with equal dignity and respect. Source: 2020 New Jersey State of the State address , Jan 14, 2020

Easier voter registration; online voting & early voting

Let's work together to allow residents to register to vote online and at the polls on Election Day. Let's enact true early, in-person voting for our residents. Let's allow 17-year-olds to register and vote in our June primaries if they will turn 18 by the November general election. Let's restore voting rights for individuals on probation or parole, so we can further their reentry into society by allowing them to exercise the most sacred right offered by our society--the right to vote. Source: 2019 State of the State address to New Jersey legislature , Jan 15, 2019

Automatic voter registration, online, and same-day

Across the nation, Republicans have systematically tried to disenfranchise voters. Phil Murphy will empower voters and increase participation by:

Automatic voter registration: Five states have automatic voter registration at their Motor Vehicle Commissions (MVC), unless they opt out. Governor Christie vetoed a law that would make NJ the sixth such empowering state.
Online voter registration: There is no reason why our residents should be able to bank and shop online, but not register to vote, like in 38 states.
Same-day voter registration: 16 states have authorized voters to register the day of elections. NJ requires that our residents register 21 days before an election--Phil believes we should eliminate this requirement.
Allowing early voting: 21 states allow residents to vote early at the polls prior to election day.
Allowing 17-year-olds to vote in primaries if they will be 18 by election day, which 24 states allow.

Source: 2017 N.J. gubernatorial campaign website, Murphy4NJ.com , Jun 6, 2017

I don't owe the political insiders anything

In the two-minute video [announcing his gubernatorial campaign], Murphy tried to set himself apart from the other hopefuls with his resume: "Here's what this campaign is not about: serving the political insiders," he said in the video. "Because I don't owe the insiders anything. I worked hard, got lucky and was able to turn my full-time attention to giving back."

Murphy, who grew up outside Boston to a family he frequently says was "middle-class on a good day," made his fortune as an executive at Goldman Sachs in the 1990s and early 2000s. The firm is unpopular among liberals and in New Jersey is associated with unpopular former Gov. Jon Corzine--a past CEO of the firm whose time there coincided with Murphy's. The Democratic hopeful has stressed other aspects of his career.

Source: Politico.com on 2017 New Jersey gubernatorial race , May 16, 2016

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*Other governors on Government Reform:*			*Phil Murphy on other issues:*
*NJ Gubernatorial:* Doug Steinhardt Edward Durr Hirsh Singh Jack Ciattarelli Jim McGreevey Jon Bramnick Josh Gottheimer Mikie Sherrill Ras Baraka Stephen Sweeney *NJ Senatorial:* Andy Kim Cory Booker Curtis Bashaw George Helmy Justin Murphy Robert Menendez Tammy Murphy	*Mayoral/Gubernatorial races 2025* (seated Jan. 2026): NJ Governor: Mikie Sherrill (D), U.S. Rep. NJ-11. vs.Jack Ciattarelli (R), State Assemblyman (2011-2018). NYC Mayor: Zohran Mamdani (D), New York State Assembly, 2021-2025. vs.Andrew Cuomo (I), former governor of New York, 2011-2021. vs.Curtis Sliwa (R), CEO of the Guardian Angels. VA Governor: Abigail Spanberger (D), U.S.Rep., VA-7 (2019-2024). vs.Winsome Earle-Sears (R), Lt. Gov. 2022-2026. *Gubernatorial races 2026*: AK: Mike Dunleavy(R,term-limited) vs.Click Bishop(R) vs.Nancy Dahlstrom(R) vs.Tom Begich(D) AL: Kay Ivey(R,term-limited) vs.Doug Jones(D) vs.Tommy Tuberville(R) vs.Will Boyd(D) vs.Yolanda Flowers(D) AR: Sarah Huckabee Sanders(R,for re-election) vs.Fredrick Love(D) AZ: Katie Hobbs(D,for re-election) vs.Andy Biggs(R) vs.David Schweikert(R) vs.~~Karrin Taylor Robson~~(R,withdrew) CA: Gavin Newsom(D,term-limited) vs.Xavier Becerra(D) vs.Steve Hilton(R) vs.Katie Porter(D) vs.Tom Steyer(D) vs.Eric Swalwell(D) vs.Antonio Villaraigosa(D) vs.~~Eleni Kounalakis~~(D,withdrew to run for state treasurer) vs.~~Zoltan Istvan~~(L,withdrew) CO: Jared Polis(D,term-limited) vs.Greg Lopez(R then I) vs.Barbara Kirkmeyer(R) vs.Scott Bottoms(R) vs.Michael Bennet(D) vs.Phil Weiser(D) CT: Ned Lamont(D,for re-election) vs.Ryan Fazio(R) vs.Susan Bysiewicz(D for Lt.Gov.) vs.~~Jen Tooker~~(R,withdrew) FL: Ron DeSantis(R,term-limited) vs.Jay Collins(R) vs.Paul Renner(R) vs.Byron Donalds(R) vs.David Jolly(R then D) vs.Jerry Demings(D) vs.Jason Pizzo(I) GA: Brian Kemp(R,term-limited) vs.Brad Raffensperger(R) vs.Chris Carr(R) vs.Burt Jones(R) vs.Geoff Duncan(R then D) vs.Keisha Lance Bottoms(D) vs.Mike Thurmond(D) vs.Chase Oliver(L) HI: Josh Green(D,for re-election) vs. Donovan Dela Cruz(D) IA: Kim Reynolds(R,retiring) vs.Brad Sherman (IA)(R) vs.Randy Feenstra(R) vs.Rob Sand(D) ID: Brad Little(R,for re-election) vs.Terri Pickens(D) IL: J.B. Pritzker(D,for re-election) vs.Darren Bailey(R) KS: Laura Kelly(D,term-limited) vs.Cindy Holscher(D) vs.Jeff Colyer(R) vs.Ty Masterson(R) vs.Vicki Schmidt(R) KY (2027): Andy Beshear(D,term-limited) vs.Lt.Gov.Jacqueline Coleman(D) vs.Rep.Rocky Adkins(D) vs.U.S.Rep.James Comer(R) LA (2027): Jeff Landry(R,for re-election) vs.Former Gov.John Bel Edwards(D) vs.Treasurer John Schroder(R) vs.Former Gov.Mitch Landrieu(D) MA: Maura Healey(D,for re-election) vs.Mike Kennealy(R) MD: Wes Moore(D,for re-election) vs.Dan Cox(R) vs.~~Christopher Bouchat~~(R,withdrew) ME: Janet Mills(D,term-limited) vs.Shenna Bellows(D) vs.Troy Jackson(D) vs.Hannah Pingree(D) vs.Robert Charles(R) vs.Ed Crockett(I)	*Gubernatorial races 2026*: MI: Gretchen Whitmer(D,term-limited) vs.Aric Nesbitt(R) vs.Perry Johnson(R) vs.Jocelyn Benson(D) vs.John James(R) vs.Mike Cox(R) vs.Tom Leonard(R) vs.Mike Duggan(I) vs.~~Garlin Gilchrist~~(D,withdrew) MN: Tim Walz(D,retiring) vs.Lisa Demuth(R) vs.Mike Lindell(R) vs.Amy Klobuchar(D) vs.~~Scott Jensen~~(R,run for Auditor) vs.~~Jeff Johnson 2026~~(R,withdrew) MS (2027): Tate Reeves(R,term-limited) vs.Brandon Presley(D) vs.House Speaker Philip Gunn(R) vs.Auditor Shad White(R) NE: Jim Pillen(R,for re-election) vs.Lynne Walz(D) NH: Kelly Ayotte(R,for re-election) vs.Jon Kiper(D) vs.Cinde Warmington(D) NM: Michelle Lujan-Grisham(D,term-limited) vs.Deb Haaland(D) vs.Gregg Hull(R) vs.Steve Lanier(R) NV: Joe Lombardo(R) vs.Aaron Ford(D) NY: Kathy Hochul(D,for re-election) vs.Bruce Blakeman(R) vs.Larry Sharpe(L) vs.~~Antonio Delgado~~(D,withdrew) vs.~~Elise Stefanik~~(R,withdrew) OH: Mike DeWine(R,term-limited) vs.Vivek Ramaswamy(R) vs.Amy Acton(D) OK: Kevin Stitt(R,term-limited) vs.Gentner Drummond(R) vs.Jake Merrick(R) vs.Charles McCall(R) vs.Cyndi Munson(D) OR: Tina Kotek(D,for re-election) vs.Christine Drazan(R) PA: Josh Shapiro(D,for re-election) vs.Ken Krawchuk(L) vs.Stacy Garrity(R) RI: Dan McKee(D,for re-election) vs.Helena Foulkes(D) vs.Aaron Guckian(R) SC: Henry McMaster(R,term-limited) vs.Nancy Mace(R) vs.Ralph Norman(R) vs.Pamela Evette(R) vs.Alan Wilson(R) vs.Jermaine Johnson(D) SD: Larry Rhoden(R,for re-election) vs.Dusty Johnson(R) vs.Jon Hansen(R) vs.Daniel Ahlers(D) vs.~~Marty Jackley~~(R,withdrew) TN: Bill Lee(R,term-limited) vs.Marsha Blackburn(R) vs.John Rose(R) vs.Carnita Atwater(D) TX: Greg Abbott(R,for re-election) vs.Gina Hinojosa(D) vs.Chris Bell(D,lost primary) VT: Phil Scott(R,for re-election) vs.Amanda Janoo(D) WI: Tony Evers(D,retiring) vs.Mandela Barnes(D) vs.Sara Rodriguez(D) vs.Kelda Helen Roys(D) vs.Francesca Hong(D) vs.Tom Tiffany(R) vs.Mike Thurow(I) WY: Mark Gordon(R,term-limited) vs.Eric Barlow(R) vs.Megan Degenfelder(R)	Abortion Budget/Economy Civil Rights Corporations Crime Drugs Education Energy/Oil Environment Families/Children Foreign Policy Free Trade Govt. 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