Phil Murphy: The New Governor of NJ

                                                                                                  By Michael Le

With the introduction of the new year, Governor-Elect of New Jersey Phil Murphy will take office on January 18, 2018. With experience in other government related positions such as Ambassador to Germany, he will fill the position of previously term-limited Governor Chris Christie.

Phil Murphy was born in Needham, Massachusetts on August 16, 1957. Murphy attended Harvard University and was president of the Hasty Pudding Theatricals in hopes of entering the musical theater industry; however, he ended up graduating with a bachelor's degree in Economics and then received an M.B.A in 1983 from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Whilst in the Wharton School, he started a summer associate internship at Goldman Sachs and obtained a net value of $50 million.

Phil Murphy, while campaigning for Governor, also obtained support from Barack Obama in areas such as Newark, where Obama spoke and endorsed the running candidate.

During the 2017 Gubernatorial New Jersey Election, Murphy took a 56.0% popular vote percentage, winning the election over Republican Kim Guadagno. Under the Democratic Party, he campaigned with promises such as raising the current minimum wage up to $15.

During a speech in Newark, Murphy talked to many local citizens about his plans and promises as governor. "We stand for a stronger, fairer, economy, that works for every New Jersey family," Murphy said. He also plans to remove PARCC as a graduation requirement and enhance gun laws in New Jersey after his inauguration as part of his promises. With his changes in mind, he has told NJ Advance Media in an interview that he hopes that New Jersey will be, "The California of the East Coast."

He has also said that he plans to sign some of the bills in New Jersey that were previously vetoed by Chris Christie. In 2015, Chris Christie withdrew from a compact to reduce air pollution but Phil Murphy plans to rejoin the regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative on the same note, Chris Christie vetoed an $15 an hour minimum wage bill presented by Democrats, but Murphy will push for the bill. As Chris Christie exits his position in January, New Jersey Citizens look forward to the inauguration of Phil Murphy and what he will bring in the upcoming years.