New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy won the Somerset County Democratic Committee’s endorsement over Rep. Andy Kim in the primary race for the U.S. Senate Thursday night.
But unlike several recent conventions where party members voted by secret ballot, the vote was taken by delegates raising green index cards — in plain view of the county party boss, a close Murphy ally who holds political and practical power over rank-and-file members of the committee.
Kim and Murphy are both looking to succeed U.S. Senator Robert Menendez, whose support from party leaders and the public nearly vanished following his September indictment on corruption charges. Kim has run an insurgent campaign, embarrassing Murphy with several early convention wins despite her seeming advantages as the establishment candidate.
But Murphy’s taken home two county conventions now, both where party leaders are close supporters of her and her governor husband.
She received 207 votes to Kim’s 106 Thursday, giving her the “county line” on the Somerset ballot, an advantageous placement that signals to voters that she has the stamp of approval from the county Democratic organization. A Rutgers researchers’ analysis shows the line gives an endorsed candidate a huge advantage in the primary race that’s rarely overcome at the ballot box.
After the vote, Tammy Murphy jumped onto the stage to thank the delegates.
“I have been here. I will be here. You have my word, I will be on the ground,” she said.
Some counties award the line through votes among their members, while in other cases, it’s entirely up to party leadership. But even in those counties that hold votes, the outcomes are strongly influenced by how much political sway party chairs have over their members, and whether the votes are held by secret ballot.
On Thursday night, Peg Schaffer — a supporter of Murphy’s and chairwoman of the Somerset County Democratic Committee — rejected a move from two members of the committee to make the…
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