Phil Murphy for Governor of New Jersey

Restore checks and balances !

New Jersey, proving yet again that it's almost as corrupt as Chicago, home of Barack Obama. No wonder some of the worst companies are incorporated in NJ. Go Garden State!

Here we go again. Another Goldman Sachs guy with all the answers. The wealthy are fleeing the state. Small business owners do not stand a chance. All I hear is the same mantra that other Dems used before to cure the ills of NJ. Christie became Governor because NJ residents were so fed up with the Dems. Guadadagno actually had good thoughtful suggestions to help NJ. Her biggest sin was being connected to Christie. I hate to say it, it nothing will ever change in NJ. More promises with little results. It breaks my heart to see the state where I was born continue on this downhill slide. Thank NYT for your rubber stamp endorsement.

Someone who wants even more oppressive gun laws and to be a "sanctuary state". I'll pass.

The Times can never see recommending a Republican period. Interesting if Ms. Guadagno had GS experience she would be clearly from the swamp and have an unfit Wall St background. The Times once again blatantly two faced and completely transparent in their bias.

I would never vote for this Murphy. He will bankrupt a already bankrupt state! he wants to raise our taxes by $9 billion and have NJ become a sanctuary state! He is a incompetent fool and I will not vote for him. I do have voting rights in NJ as that is my primary residence. I dont want NJ to be a sanctuary state and I dont want my taxes to go up. By giving the democrats control they have said they will raise our taxes. I want the pension system resolved and allow the public employees to have a 401K and to reduce the health benefits of all public employees and to consolidate school districts. Without all three of those things happening NJ will be bankrupt in no time and no one will be left living here except the illegals and public employees because they will have driven everyone else with the high property and everything else taxes! for your info NJ pays 10% of all property taxes collected nationwide. That is nuts! VOTE NO FOR THIS INCOMPETENT FOOL MURPHY!

Governor Christie has chosen to play Russian Roulette with the economic and financial health of New Jersey and its residents by cancelling the second commuter rail tunnel rail project and LOST, starting with Superstorm Sandy!

Christie, despite his many errors, got and enforced a 2% cap on municipal spending that has kept property taxes from rising as they did previously. He also vetoed the worst of the Democrat majority legislators dumber laws. Vote for Murphy if you want higher taxes on everything as he has an expensive plan to spend on everything you could possibly imagine. Vote for Guadagno if you want taxes to stay the same or lower and keep a check on the Democrat majority legislators worst ideas.

Just what New Jersey needs, another uber wealthy Goldman Sachs alum without any relevant experience. Didn't we try that with the John Corzine? Murphy was appointed Ambassador to Germany because he was a huge fundraiser for President Obama, not because he was qualified. so, his qualifications: - He promises to spend more money on public schools - translation - in bed with the teachers unions. No matter how much you spend, they always demand more. - He promises a $15 minimum wage - small business killing - wants to raise taxes on some people- so that he can give it to people he deems more deserving. All New Jersey residents have to do is look to neighboring Connecticut, where another liberal democrat, Gov. Malloy has destroyed their economy with these same tired ideas. Is it any wonder that people and businesses are fleeing the tri-state area?

Let's see. The Times supports the former Goldman Sachs executive and opposes the woman on the ballot. Sounds very sexist and misogynist. Sounds like The Times cannot bring itself to support a woman for a position of power. What is it with progressives and liberals that they cannot bring themselves to support a woman for high office. No wonder Hillary lost the election in 2016. Too many sexist liberals and progressives who would rather vote for a rich man from Wall Street than a woman.

Just what we need, another carpet-bagging Wall Streeter who's bored in his affluent retirement from Goldman Sachs who thinks he can "fix" New Jersey by raising taxes. Been there, done that, didn't work.

Phil Murphy, of course, is a terrible choice for governor. A Goldman-Sachs über-capitalist that bought his ambassadorship and made a complete fool of himself as Ambassador to Germany. He oversaw the transformation of the German Embassy in Berlin into an illegal surveillance station targeting even our Angela Merkel. He also got caught spewing negative rhetoric about Mrs.Merkel and other German officials. Now Murphy's deep Wall Street pockets outspent everybody in the primary, effectively buying the nomination for New Jersey governor. Murphy represents your typical corporatist, Wall Street Democrats who have abandoned FDR-type policies and the New Deal platform like a Terry McAuliffe. New Jersey could have done so much better and only because the alternative is worse, doesn't make Phil Murphy a good candidate. Get ready for Jon Corzine 2.0 SAD.

Tell me it ain't so--the NY Times is endorsing a far-left camdodate for governor of New Jersey--and distorting Chris Christie's record to do so? I guess the obvious question is this: How did Christie get elected and then reelected--if Democrats were happy with their own candidates--and if Christie did such a terrible job? The truth is, sometimes Progressives recognize the need to protect the citizens against their own liberal excesses. This is what goes on behind the scenes when a blue state elects a fiscal conservative like Chris Christie, not once, but twice. Even Liberals understand that they cannot be trusted with the State's finances. Had Jon Corzine been re-elected, he would have kept the state on the destructive spending path they were on. Instead, New Jersey elected Christie to bring some fiscal sanity to bear. Even in my home state of Vermont--arguably the most Liberal state in the union, we elected Phil Scott--a Republican governor in 2016. It's easy to see why Liberals sometimes vote against what might be considered "their own best interests"--because they are also taxpayers--who sometimes tug at their own shirt collars when it comes time to pay local property taxes--and also get a bit queasy at the giveaways to the public unions. So Liberals occasionally elect Conservatives to do what they cannot--which is to say NO to ever more destructive Liberalism. Bottom line?? Why did a very Liberal state elect Chris Christie? It's called self-preservation.

I'm glad the *New York* Times thinks it has right to an opinion about who the governor of New Jersey should be. However, the Morristown Daily Record, an actual New Jersey newspaper, disagrees vociferously: http://www.dailyrecord.com/story/opinion/editorials/2017/10/27/guadagno-... The Daily Record editors conclude: "While wealthy public officials often argue that it makes them immune to pressures from rich, powerful interests, it does not insulate them from the need to curry favor with those whose votes they depend on. In Murphy’s case, it’s the unions, a formidable voting bloc in the state. Given his stances on virtually every issue, their influence on him is evident. "Murphy is likable and smart. And from all accounts, his strength as a manager was the key to his success at Goldman Sachs. But we believe his agenda for New Jersey is informed more by a core progressive mindset than a sober look at the stark fiscal realities facing the state and overwrought taxpayers. "Guadagno understands those realities. And, if elected, will focus on changing them." Get off your progressive high horse, NY Times. Murphy will drive New Jersey into a financial ditch and absolute ruin in an all-out effort to appease the unions. He is just another Corzine-like Goldman-Sachs money guy, whose only real interest is his own. Guadagno isn't perfect, but she isn't Christie, either. She has the experience and deserves a chance to get NJ working again!

Guadagno has the stench of death about her. Of course, it doesn't help that she's a Republican and a Christie flunky. There are too many rich guys running for office these days but it seems Murphy has at least a 50-50 chance of doing right by New Jersey, a state plainly operating below its potentially. Vote rational, vote basic decency, vote Democrat. The country's in a bad place right now. A good outcome in NJ can definitely help turn things around.

No brainer here: elect Democrats for any and all public offices.

Sure what a surprise that the NY Times is supporting a Democrat over a Republican woman. Now we can expect more taxes as Mr Murphy has promised and the Teacher's union is so happy despite the proven fact these union contracts are horrific. Thank you NY Times again for going against a Republican WOMAN and supporting Mr Murphy who promises to make the whole state a sanctuary state - thank you NY Times for making our lives here in Jersey more miserable.

> The only thing that can mess up this election now are Bernie's supporters mad because there is not free education or health care on the platform.

Amen. I agree with your every point. Raising the gas tax is one of the only things Christie got right. At some point, voters have to wake up and vote for the right people or they will have preordained their own demise. Murphy is perfect for New Jersey right now. Let's hope the voters do the right thing.

No new governor will be able to solve the many problems facing New Jersey, because no new governor of either party will try to do the necessary hard work to solve problems. Even if I were to give any governor-elect the benefit of the doubt, and he or she tries, the people of this state will divide and scream and object to pretty much anything. The state is as divided as the nation. Remember when Florio couldn't raise the sales tax a penny without getting kicked out? Imagine that: a penny, inspiring such ferocity. Someone must've raised it later, because it got raised at some point. When I moved here, I was hopeful that it would be a good place to live. After years of waiting, I got tired of listening to empty promises from politicians of all parties. Nothing changes here. The property taxes will never be lowered. The costs of auto insurance will always remain high. I could go on, but why bother? Changes will come on an individual level, when people leave here and take their talents and money elsewhere. Maybe once the state has half the population, someone will address the real problems. Or maybe not even then.

Not long after Chris Christie and Kim Guadagno were inaugurated in 2010, New Jersey was struck by a paralyzing blizzard. Both the Governor and Lt.Governor were vacationing out of the state, and out of the country, leaving responsibility to senior Legislators. If I remember correctly, there was a union dispute with plow drivers and one count (Ocean?) wasn't cleared. This was followed by Christie losing $250 million in federal education aide due to missing a deadline. The application was on Christie's desk, but he fired Bret Schundler as a scapegoat. This became a pattern with Christie. For 2 weeks, during the Sandy crisis, Christie showed leadership, but for the rest of his 8 years he's been a disruptive and destructive influence. He even used Sandy money to coerce Democratic mayors to endorse him for re-election. And, yes, The Bridge. Everyone who believes he had nothing to do with it, did you know the bridge is for sale? For a bargain price? Then, throughout 2015 and most of 2016, Mr. Christie was out of the state campaigning for the Presidency of the United States. Perhaps not being around kept him from doing more mischief? It's true that of the last 3 Democratic governors, only Richard Codey, as Acting Governor, did well by our state. As a Democrat, I've been disappointed with both McGreevey and Corzine. Let's hope Phil Murphy can bring a new standard of excellent governance to New Jersey!

Chris Christie abandoned NJ for his failed political ambitions. I cannot wait to vote for Phil Murphy. Vote in every election, every time. Even if it looks like a sure thing - show up and be counted.

It IS a formidable task, which the record of previous New Jersey Governors, Republican and Democrat alike, attests. There's more to be said for Guadagno than you allow.

NJ.com did a much better job of endorsing Phil Murphy, basically the writer stated Murphy is highly flawed but not as flawed as Guardagno, And then listed his flaws and a few of his strengths. The problem with NJ's finances has several causes, 1) we don't get any of our federal tax money back, basically we're funding Alabama instead of NJ. 2) Corruption. Contracts like the Whitefish/Puerto Rico scandal is business as usual for NJ. 3) Too many municipalities. We are tiny state with too many towns. School districts, police departments, etc should be combined. 4) The ridiculous pensions of small town police chiefs, and double dipping pensions for state officials, you know like disgraced governor McGreevy who has several pensions one that Jersey City has to pay with no funds to pay it. 5) The Exxon money Christie gave away. We could have used the money the judge was going to give us, and Christie settled out of court for a 10th of the award. I'm happy to raise taxes after the above problems are fixed. People don't want taxes not because they are greedy but because of the improprieties of those spending our money. Only one Democratic candidate talked about corruption during the primaries that was Johnson. Of course the party bosses paid off by Murphy weren't going to let him or any of the other more suited candidates win.

I would rather have a wealthy, self-made person with democratic (small d) intentions in charge, than self-absorbed, self-promoting, demagogues or their underlings. Phil Murphy, any day, than Kim "I'm not Chris Christie" Guadagno. By the way, I watched the two debates. I would like to suggest a drinking game. Watch the debates and every time Kim Guadagno says "property tax", take a swig. It will get you through to Election Day in what seems much less time.

The Times endorses a candidate who spent $20 million dollars effectively to buy the Democratic nomination and the governorship. I fail to see how a Gov. Murphy will be a good thing for the Democratic Party, New Jersey, or for cleaning up the influence of money in our elections. I will not vote for this multimillionaire financier-turned-politician.

With Election Day fast approaching, Americans are once again put in charge. It’s our golden opportunity to begin to rid ourselves of all remaining vestiges of “Good ol’ Boy” politics. Our Political Parties have, for too long, become expressions of a mob mentality governed by money, power, and greed. We look for wisdom, confidence, compassion, and intriguing new ideas from our leaders, but often must settle for ignorance, nastiness, dishonesty, and a black hole of fresh thought. Our nation is populated with millions upon millions of young, well educated, potential voters. If they care for their futures and those of their families and neighborhoods, they need not blindly follow in their parents unquestioning zeal to keep the status quo. Question authority, educate your mind, vote. It’s your right and your best hope.

A governor Murphy administration would preside over the greatest exodus from New Jersey and subsequently, from the NY metro area. With a democratic state legislature and executive, the first order of business would be, guaranteed, to reinstate the estate tax which was done away with as part of the justification for the $.23 gas tax. That may be one small example but rest assured it will be part of a larger tax and spend agenda. New Jersey deserves better than both Guadagno and Murphy. Neither is the right choice.

I met Phil Murphy and listened to him speak. His vision is to invest in mass transportation and infrastructure and innovation areas of complete abandonment by Krispy Kreme and the anti-social Republican nihilists, and to spur an innovation economy (technology, R&D, education) that takes natural advantage of the highly educated workforce and our proximity between two great cities - Philly and New York. Massachusetts has already done this - it is a high tech-high tax-high education-mass transit-friendly state that has prospered. California is very similar. Lots of companies actual want an educated economy with good transportation and infrastructure, not just a Republican relocation bribe, to come to New Jersey. Phil Murphy is an experienced financing mind who comes from a middle class family and who gives away millions each year in charity and who put himself through college and graduate school; he is not just another 'Goldman Sachs' suit. New Jersey has lots of potential that Chris Christie completely ignored while he pursued his personal political ambitions and political spite. Chris Christie had zero vision for New Jersey and is a failed leader. Phil Murphy will wind up showing New Jerseyans what a real governor and a real government looks like . Being scared of and angry at taxes is enough motivation for some New Jerseyans to vote Republican, but it's not a vision for the future. D to go forward; R for reverse.

Kim Guadagno is not a trusted individual, when we consider her wheeling and dealing at the time of the Sandy storm and rescue efforts, and making the relief efforts political. She ought not be considered 'clean', as she was complicit in Christie's abuse of power. What a difference with the gentleman's attitude of Murphy, hopefully a whiff of fresh air for New Jersey's corrupted politics.

I don’t think New Jersey needs another retired Goldman Sachs executive who wants to govern a state as a hobby. We don’t need a Jon Corzine clone.

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting the same result. Kim Guadagno would just Chris Christie the sequel. Mr. Murphy has my vote!

Voting for any republican is voting for Trump. It's his party.

This piece is really disappointing coming from the Times. I would have expected more depth, more skepticism, and more nuance. I am so sick and tired of politicians dominating airwaves with their own messages that always go either, "I will lower your taxes!" or "I will bring back all kinds of great programs!" Neither side has much interest in explaining how they will balance their promises with economic realities and your job is to either make them do it or to do it for them. Instead, you have just produced a completely empty piece that lobbies for the guy you like without explaining the tough realities of anything. "Christie was bad, this guy is not as bad..." That's not journalism, that's pandering.

The NYT endorsed a Democrat? I did NOT see that coming. So throwing vast sums at absolutely everything -- with no clue as to how to pay for it -- is going to heal NJ's credit rating? Huh. I guess math really IS hard. If you want a high-spending Wall Streeter, why not just bring back Jon Corzine? He's still good for another term, after all. And his approach worked out so well last time.

Of course! Let this be just the beginning of the end of the criminal Republican party throughout the country.

Murphy has never responded to the Republican TV ads, especially about how he would get the funding to pay for the great things. That leaves me worried that Murphy does plan to introduce higher taxes... Not sure I trust his silence on this issue.

Some are already complaining about Murphy's so called promises to try and fix the roads & other infrastructure, which is a disaster. And fix the pension funding and educational system, among other disasters, and so forth. And it's a valid question to ask... how is he going to pay for them, etc. Well 8 years ago and 4 years ago Christie promised to fix these things too and pay for them with no new taxes, only from that magical growth in revenue from a booming economy they always promise, and like all repub promises, it never happens. And as the editorial says, everything got worse. Everything Christie did was to benefit the 1% and nothing was done for average people. Guadagno of course is one of his loyal toads. And it's evident from the Bridgegate scandal to every other failure, neither has any integrity. So yes, most of us don't like a wealthy, former Goldman Sachs type either with his questionable promises. But the meaningless promises of the repubs and Guadagno specifically are even worse. In my view only one candidate will actually try to help the average citizen. It's guaranteed the repub offering will only promote policies and legislation that help the wealthy, the big polluters and corporations. Sometimes you have to hold your nose and vote as wisely as you can given the choices. Murphy is far from perfect, but in my view better than someone with no integrity at all.

As a former New Jerseyan who voted against Christie twice, I am on the sidelines heartily rooting for a Murphy victory while I cast my vote next week for Ralph Northam, Democratic candidate for Virginia’s next Governor.

While I have serious problems with Guadagno and her lack of anything close to a coherent plan for the serious problems facing NJ, the thought of a state government controlled entirely by the Democrats terrifies me. The Democratic party in NJ is essentially a political machine controlled by a very few people and essentially held hostage by public unions, especially police and teachers. Police in NJ are already the highest paid in the country and Murphy refuses to support the 2% cap. I truly fear if the Democrats get full control of the state, taxes and spending will rapidly spiral out of control. It is true that we are facing a rather dismal choice in this election but I would much prefer to have some check on the legislature.

As the least popular governor in the country, Chris Christy, Republican, leaves office, the Democrats can easily reclaim the office. And whom do they nominate? Yet another Goldman Sachs alumnus. And this is touted as a good thing. Lesser evil voting is increasingly all we can expect in our politics.

Thats just what NJ needs-more taxes on corporations and successful people so they move our even faster. Schools need a union that cares about education and keeping only quality teachers not more money. Our gun laws are already one of the toughest in the country. Immigration reform = sanctuary state. Sounds like all the red meat for Democratic votes.

If Jerseyites vote in Guadagno they deserve the disastrous results it will bring. Even if Murphy was a middling candidate, it would be a remarkable improvement over the jetsam and flotsam left in the wake of the Christie administration.

The Times supporting a Democrat isn't exactly news. I think it's great that Murphy wants to add money for *everything*. Saying "yes" to everyone who wants anything is a great way to get elected. But it isn't clear where all this funding is going to come from. How about the tiniest bit of skepticism over whether he'll actually be able to pay for all of these things?

SHOW ME THE MONEY I am no fan of Christi or for that matter Guadagano. HOWEVER, your article does not explain how Murphy intends to pay for his many program. I pay too much in real estate and state taxes, and I am not willing to pay a dime more. Without an explanation of how Murphy will pay for his program, independent voters and moderate Republicans are inclined to vote for Guadagano. Your endorsement, absent evaluation of finance, given your well known leftist/liberal bias, is actually a disservice to Murphy. Please try again.

I said I would never, ever, ever, ever vote Republican again. However, I am leaning towards Kim Guadagno anyway. Why? Because we are already taxed so highly in NJ that we have an annual conversation about our need to move away. Because I work for a charity that tries to place homeless people in homes because they have been priced out of the rental market--a market that is already hampered by property taxes. Because I have elderly parents and cannot find an affordable solution for them on where they should move. When I look at Phil Murphy's plans, they feel like the very thing that will finally break us and cause us to move away--provided we can do so fast enough to avoid the exit tax he proposes. I don't love Guadagno but she is pro-choice, pro-gay, pro-immigration and anti tax. So to my shock, horror and embarrassment, I will likely be voting for her. Why? Because the tax burden in NJ is unbearable. And because if I am fair about it and not discriminate against her for the R next her name, her views reflect mine.

I met Mr. Murphy at an event in Paterson...and I was impressed by his sincerity. Yes, he served as an ambassador to one of our most important allies--and that experience and his qualifications make him more qualified for office than, say, our current ambassador to New Zealand under Trump. Goldman Sachs has hired a wide spectrum of talented people. Mr. Murphy is NO Bannon or Mnuchin (if they even have any positive talents).

Murphy by all means, however ,Christie still has a loyal following, and after Trumps victory, I can’t relax until Murphy is sworn in.Maybe New Jersey has a chance to be taken seriously.

While NJ has, in general, the highest taxes in the United States the NYT in its endorsement of Mr. Murphy states that "one of the few things Mr. Christie got right" was to "raise the gas tax"! It's apparent that any politician who states unequivocally they will raise taxes will receive the endorsement of the NYT.

No mention of Guadagno's extortion shakedown of the Hoboken mayor, and her subsequent hollow denial.