Phil Murphy facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Phil Murphy
Murphy in 2023
56th Governor of New Jersey
Incumbent
Assumed office January 16, 2018
Lieutenant	Sheila Oliver (2018–2023) Tahesha Way (2023–present)
Preceded by	Chris Christie
Chair of the National Governors Association
In office July 15, 2022 – July 14, 2023
Preceded by	Asa Hutchinson
Succeeded by	Spencer Cox
United States Ambassador to Germany
In office September 3, 2009 – August 26, 2013
President	Barack Obama
Preceded by	William R. Timken
Succeeded by	John B. Emerson
Personal details
Born	Philip Dunton Murphy (1957-08-16) August 16, 1957 (age 67) Needham, Massachusetts, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Tammy Snyder ​ (m. 1993)​
Children	4
Residence	Drumthwacket
Education	Harvard University (BA) University of Pennsylvania (MBA)

Philip Dunton Murphy (born August 16, 1957) is an American politician who serves as the 56th governor of New Jersey. He became governor in 2018. A member of the Democratic Party, he was first elected governor in 2017. He was reelected for a second term in 2021. Before becoming governor, Murphy was the U.S. ambassador to Germany from 2009 to 2013 under President Barack Obama.

Murphy worked for 23 years at Goldman Sachs, a large financial company. He held important jobs there and earned a lot of money before he retired in 2006. He is also involved in many groups that help people and communities. He was in charge of fundraising for the Democratic National Committee in the mid-2000s.

While planning to run for governor, Murphy and his wife, Tammy Murphy, started a group called New Start New Jersey. He won the 2017 election against Kim Guadagno. In 2021, he won reelection in a close race against Jack Ciattarelli. Murphy is the first Democratic governor of New Jersey to win a second term since 1977. In 2022, he became the first person from New Jersey to lead the National Governors Association.

Early Life and Education

Murphy's high school yearbook photo, 1975

Phil Murphy was born in Needham, Massachusetts. He grew up there and in nearby Newton. His parents were Dorothy Louise and Walter F. Murphy. His family was Irish American. Murphy has said his family was "middle class on a good day." His mother worked as a secretary, and his father, who didn't finish high school, took many different jobs. They often lived paycheck to paycheck.

Both of his parents were big fans of John F. Kennedy. They volunteered for his political campaign in 1952. As a boy, Murphy played soccer, and he still loves the sport today. His mother believed that education was very important. Phil and his three older brothers and sisters all went to college.

Murphy graduated from Needham High School in 1975. He went to Harvard University and earned a degree in economics in 1979. At Harvard, he hoped to become a professional musical theater performer. He was even elected president of the Hasty Pudding Theatricals, a student theater group. Later, he went to the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School. He earned his MBA degree there in 1983.

Career in Finance

Murphy started his career in finance at Goldman Sachs in 1982. He was hired after he graduated in 1983. He quickly moved up in the company. He said his success came from his ability to make deals. He could help people who didn't get along find a way to work together.

From 1993 to 1997, Murphy led Goldman Sachs' office in Frankfurt, Germany. His work then grew to include Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and other countries in Central Europe. He worked on many deals with the German government.

From 1997 to 1999, Murphy was the President of Goldman Sachs in Asia. He worked from Hong Kong. In 1999, Murphy joined the company's management committee. In 2001, he became a global co-head of the firm's Investment Management Division. This group managed money for many different organizations and wealthy people. Murphy's daily work at the company ended in 2003, and he retired in 2006. He worked at Goldman Sachs for 23 years.

Early Political Roles

Leading the New Jersey Benefits Task Force

In 2005, Governor Richard Codey asked Murphy to lead a task force. This group looked at benefits for public workers in New Jersey. The state had a problem with its pension system, which is like a retirement fund for workers.

The task force shared its ideas in December 2005. Murphy's group said that past state practices had used "gimmicks" instead of real solutions. He suggested selling some state-owned assets. He also suggested raising the retirement age and changing how pensions were calculated. Labor unions did not like these ideas.

Democratic Party Finance Chair

Murphy at the 2007 Democratic National Committee fall meeting

After leaving Goldman Sachs, Murphy worked for the Democratic National Committee (DNC) from 2006 to 2009. He was the National Finance Chair, working with DNC Chair Howard Dean. Murphy liked Dean's ideas for the party. They became good friends.

Murphy helped raise money for Dean's "50-state strategy." This plan aimed to build the Democratic Party in every state. Murphy said he raised $300 million for the DNC. He also gave nearly $1.5 million to Democratic candidates by 2009.

Serving as an Ambassador

Murphy's official ambassadorial portrait

Ambassador Murphy receiving gifts in Köln in mid-2013 near the end of his tenure. Also visible are Peter Jungen (right) and Mayor Jürgen Roters

Ambassador Murphy and Sunil Gulati presenting an autographed shirt of the U. S. National Team to Chancellor Angela Merkel at the 2011 Women's World Cup as Jill Biden and Chelsea Clinton looks on

Phil Murphy served as the United States Ambassador to Germany under President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2013. An ambassador is a diplomat who represents their country in another country. The U.S. Senate confirmed his nomination in August 2009. He arrived in Berlin on August 21.

During his time as ambassador, Murphy worked to improve trade between the U.S. and Germany. He also focused on connecting with young people in Germany. He held town hall meetings and supported exchange programs. He especially reached out to children who had immigrated to Germany. He wanted them to understand the importance of the friendship between the two countries.

There was a time when secret U.S. diplomatic messages were leaked. These messages included some negative comments about German politicians. Murphy had to work to fix the situation. He apologized for the leak and said that even though it was "awkward," the relationship between Germany and the U.S. was strong.

Murphy left his ambassador role in August 2013.

After the Ambassadorship

After returning to the U.S., Murphy was considered as a possible candidate for governor of New Jersey in 2013, but he did not run. Instead, he rejoined his business consulting firm, Murphy Endeavors LLC. He also gave speeches about his experiences in Germany.

In 2014, Murphy created New Start New Jersey. This was a non-profit group that focused on progressive policies. His wife was a co-founder and leader of the group. The organization helped raise Murphy's public profile. It aimed to help workers get back into jobs.

In September 2015, Murphy started another group called New Way for New Jersey. This group was more directly involved in politics. It held town hall meetings and encouraged people to sign petitions against the governor at the time, Chris Christie. This group closed after Murphy announced he would run for governor.

Running for Governor in 2017

Campaign logo

In May 2016, Phil Murphy announced he would run for the Democratic nomination for governor of New Jersey. He was the first person to announce his candidacy. He said he was running because New Jersey needed "adult leadership that puts our people first."

Starting his campaign so early was unusual. He also had to deal with comparisons to a former governor, Jon Corzine, who was also a wealthy former Goldman Sachs executive and was not very popular. Murphy was not well-known at first.

Several other strong candidates were expected to run. However, Steven Fulop, the mayor of Jersey City, and Stephen M. Sweeney, the State Senate President, both decided not to run and endorsed Murphy. This made Murphy the clear front-runner for the nomination.

Murphy holding a campaign event

In January 2017, New Jersey's two U.S. senators, Bob Menendez and Cory Booker, endorsed Murphy. He also received support from all 21 county Democratic party organizations. These endorsements are very important in New Jersey politics.

Murphy spent the most money of all the candidates, using a lot of his own funds. He also donated money to county party organizations. He received endorsements from former Vice President Joe Biden and former Vice President Al Gore. Many major labor unions in the state also supported him.

Murphy won the Democratic primary election on June 6 with 48% of the vote. He then faced Kim Guadagno, the Republican nominee, in the general election in November. Guadagno tried to distance herself from the unpopular Governor Christie and focused on Murphy's background at Goldman Sachs.

On July 26, Murphy announced that Assemblywoman Sheila Oliver would be his running mate.

Murphy won the general election with about 56% of the vote. He became the first Democrat to win the governorship by such a margin in many years.

Murphy's campaign promised several policy changes:

• State Bank: He suggested creating a state-owned bank to help New Jersey's economy. This bank would offer loans to businesses and college students.
• Pensions: He said the state needed to keep its promise to public workers regarding their retirement pensions.
• Minimum Wage: He supported raising the $15 minimum wage and guaranteed paid sick leave.
• Affordable Housing: He proposed ways to create more affordable housing without building too many new buildings.
• School Desegregation: Members of his team later filed a lawsuit to address school segregation.

Governorship

First Term as Governor

On January 16, 2018, Phil Murphy was sworn in as the 56th governor of New Jersey. He took over from Chris Christie. One of his first actions was to support wind power projects in the state. The next month, he signed a law that committed New Jersey to the Paris Agreement, an international agreement on climate change. He also made sure the state sued the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for changing environmental rules.

In March 2018, he signed a law that automatically registers people to vote when they apply for a driver's license. By June, he signed a law allowing sports betting in the state. In December, he signed new laws to improve how NJ Transit, the state's public transportation system, is managed.

In April 2019, Murphy signed a law allowing terminally ill patients to choose to end their lives with a doctor's help. In June, he signed a law limiting the use of solitary confinement in New Jersey prisons. In October, he said he was against building a new power plant in North Bergen.

Murphy meets with President Donald Trump in April 2020

Murphy with President Joe Biden in September 2021

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic greatly affected Murphy's time as governor. He declared a state of emergency in March and ordered a lockdown of the entire state. Most schools and businesses closed, and students had to learn from home. By summer, many restaurants reopened, but Murphy required people to wear masks.

In the 2020 United States presidential election, Murphy first supported New Jersey Senator Cory Booker. After Booker left the race, Murphy later endorsed Joe Biden. In June 2021, Murphy signed an order to end the COVID public health emergency. After his reelection, he said he wanted every child back in school by winter.

Reelection in 2021

Murphy speaks to the press following the second gubernatorial debate at Rowan University on October 12, 2021.

On October 1, 2020, Murphy announced he would seek reelection. He ran with Sheila Oliver as his running mate again. He won the Democratic primary without any opponents. In the general election, he defeated Republican nominee Jack Ciattarelli. The race was much closer than in 2017. Murphy became the first Democratic governor of New Jersey to be reelected since Brendan Byrne in 1977.

Second Term as Governor

Murphy walking with Senator Cory Booker alongside security, October 2022

In July 2022, Murphy was chosen to lead the National Governors Association. He was the first person from New Jersey to hold this position.

In April 2023, Murphy helped resolve a strike at Rutgers University. He invited union leaders and university officials to his office to negotiate. The strike ended after five days of talks led by Murphy. He also signed an executive order to protect patients and healthcare workers who provide or receive gender-affirming care in New Jersey.

In July 2023, Murphy filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Transportation. This was over New York's plan to charge drivers to enter busy parts of Manhattan. He argued that this "congestion pricing" plan needed a full environmental review. Some environmental groups criticized Murphy for this, saying he claimed to be an environmentalist but was trying to stop a plan that could reduce pollution.

From July 28 to August 13, Murphy went on vacation. During this time, Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver became acting governor. Sadly, Oliver passed away on August 1. New Jersey Senate President Nicholas Scutari then served as acting governor until Murphy returned. On September 8, Murphy appointed Tahesha Way as the new lieutenant governor.

In December 2024, Murphy signed a bill that stops book bans in New Jersey.

Public Opinion

When Murphy first became governor in April 2018, about 44% of New Jersey residents approved of his performance. By February 2019, his approval rating had slightly dropped. For most of 2019, he was among the less popular governors in the U.S.

However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Murphy's approval rating went up a lot. In July 2020, it reached 67% and stayed above 60% for the rest of the year. By mid-2023, opinions on his performance became more mixed, with his approval ratings falling to around 47-50%.

Personal Life

Phil Murphy met his wife, Tammy Snyder, in 1987 when they both worked at Goldman Sachs. They started dating six years later and got married in 1993.

Murphy and his wife have four children: three sons and one daughter. The family moved to Middletown Township, New Jersey, in the late 1990s. They live in a large home by a river. Murphy also owns homes in Germany and Italy. His children attended private schools. Tammy Snyder Murphy has also held various roles in finance, community groups, and politics.

Murphy and his wife are part owners of NJ/NY Gotham FC, a professional women's soccer team. Murphy has said he knows the team might not make money, but he wants to support women's professional soccer for his daughter.

On March 4, 2020, Murphy had surgery to remove cancerous tumors from his kidneys. He recovered fully soon after.

Murphy has received honorary degrees from Hamilton College in 2015 and Rutgers University in 2019. In 2022, he received a high honor from Germany.

Wealth and Giving Back

Murphy became very wealthy during his time at Goldman Sachs. By one estimate in 2009, his wealth was in the hundreds of millions of dollars after he left the company.

In 2016, Murphy released his tax returns. In 2014, he earned about $6 million and paid about $2 million in taxes. He also donated a large part of his income to charity. Over five years, his charitable donations averaged about $980,000 a year.

Community Involvement

A soccer enthusiast, Ambassador Murphy poses with girls school teams in Lower Saxony in 2011. Former U.S. national team players Briana Scurry and Amanda Cromwell are also present.

Murphy has served on the boards of many community and charity groups. These include the NAACP, the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, and the Center for American Progress. He has also been involved with programs at the University of Pennsylvania.

Murphy has helped lead local charities that support troubled teenagers and survivors of domestic abuse. He and his wife started 2nd Floor, a helpline for teens in New Jersey. By 2015, this helpline had received 700,000 calls and helped save lives.

In 2004–2005, Murphy co-led a national task force on public education. This group suggested ideas like longer school days and school years.

The Murphy family became big soccer fans during their time in Germany. Murphy has served on the boards of the U.S. Soccer Foundation and the U.S. Soccer Federation World Cup Bid Committee. He and his wife co-own a part of the professional women's soccer team NJ/NY Gotham FC.

Electoral History

Images for kids

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  Murphy in 2023

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  Murphy's high school yearbook photo, 1975

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  Murphy at the 2007 Democratic National Committee fall meeting

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  Murphy's official ambassadorial portrait

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  Ambassador Murphy receiving gifts in Köln in mid-2013 near the end of his tenure. Also visible are Peter Jungen (right) and Mayor Jürgen Roters

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  Ambassador Murphy and Sunil Gulati presenting an autographed shirt of the U. S. National Team to Chancellor Angela Merkel at the 2011 Women's World Cup as Jill Biden and Chelsea Clinton looks on

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  Ambassador Murphy greeting Secretary of State John Kerry upon arrival in Berlin early in 2013

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  Campaign logo

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  Murphy holding a campaign event

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  Murphy meets with President Donald Trump in April 2020

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  Murphy with President Joe Biden in September 2021

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  Murphy speaks to the press following the second gubernatorial debate at Rowan University on October 12, 2021.

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  Murphy walking with Senator Cory Booker alongside security, October 2022

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  A soccer enthusiast, Ambassador Murphy poses with girls school teams in Lower Saxony in 2011. Former U.S. national team players Briana Scurry and Amanda Cromwell are also present.

See also

In Spanish: Phil Murphy para niños