Democrat Phil Murphy sworn in as New Jersey governor

<p>Democrat Phil Murphy was sworn in Tuesday as New Jersey's 56th governor, replacing Republican Gov. Chris Christie.</p>

News 12 Staff

Jan 16, 2018, 10:58 AM

Updated 2,290 days ago

Share:

By MICHAEL CATALINI
Associated Press
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - Former Wall Street executive Phil Murphy succeeded Chris Christie as New Jersey's governor Tuesday, swearing his oath on the same Bible President John F. Kennedy used in 1961, while promising to transform the state into a liberal beacon that fights back against President Donald Trump.
Murphy, 60, succeeds Christie after two terms, returning full control of state government to Democrats. While Christie is a friend and ally of Trump's, Murphy built his first run for elected office around undoing the Trump administration's efforts on health care, immigration and taxes.
"We will resist every move from President Trump and a misguided Republican Congress," Murphy said in his roughly-half-hour-long inaugural address before being interrupted by applause.
Hinting at Trump's reported vulgar comments last week about immigration, Murphy called the country a "beacon of light" for immigrants including those from Haiti and Africa.
"We will resist any attempt to define who is and who isn't a real American," he said, before later praising the diversity of his Cabinet officials, including the state's first Sikh-American attorney general.
"America strikes back," he said.
Trump called Murphy and new Democratic Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam on Sunday to congratulate them. The White House said that Trump and Murphy agreed to work together and to seek improvements to the country's infrastructure.
Working with Washington on a $13 billion project to build new rail tunnels under the Hudson River needed to alleviate problems throughout the Northeast Corridor will be an early test of Murphy's ability to work with the Trump administration while he criticizes him on other fronts.
A federal transportation official said last month that an earlier agreement with the Obama administration for the federal government to pay for half of the project is "non-existent."
Murphy's wife, Tammy, and their four children joined him on stage as he was sworn in by state Supreme Court Chief Justice Stuart Rabner. Murphy's running mate, former Assemblywoman Sheila Oliver, was sworn in as lieutenant governor. She replaces Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, the Republican whom Murphy defeated last November.
A salute of cannons then went off outside of the ceremony at the War Memorial in Trenton and Murphy went down a line of officials shaking hands. He hugged Christie and later praised his work addressing the opioid crisis and his role as a father.
Murphy thanked him for over two decades of public service to the state. Christie served as the U.S. attorney in New Jersey before he ran for governor.
Murphy's inaugural address was unabashedly liberal, calling for the wealthy to pay higher taxes, more funding for Planned Parenthood and a $15 minimum wage. He said that his vision for a "stronger and fairer" New Jersey includes criminal justice reform and marijuana legalization.
"We can once again be the state that leads the nation in progressive policies and puts common sense and our residents first in line," Murphy said.
The new governor earned his fortune, which he used to help win the Democratic nomination last year, as an executive at Goldman Sachs. The state's last Democratic governor, Jon Corzine, who Christie ousted in 2009, was also an executive at Goldman Sachs.
Murphy, who like Kennedy grew up in Massachusetts, also served several years under the Obama administration as ambassador to Germany.
He takes over from a larger-than-life governor who oversaw the state as its economy rebounded but who also saw his popularity plunge after a failed presidential run and the George Washington Bridge lane-closure scandal. A former ally pleaded guilty and two former aides were convicted in the political revenge plot, which targeted a Democratic mayor who wouldn't endorse Christie's second gubernatorial bid.
"Thank you to all the people of New Jersey for the honor of being your Governor for the last eight years," Christie wrote on Twitter after the inauguration. "It was a true privilege."
Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


More from News 12
1:49
Human remains unearthed during drainage work in Putnam County

Human remains unearthed during drainage work in Putnam County

0:56
Sunny for the rest of the workweek ahead before possible wet weekend in Hudson Valley

Sunny for the rest of the workweek ahead before possible wet weekend in Hudson Valley

2:30
Biden campaign reports blockbuster fundraising hauls ahead of visit

Biden campaign reports blockbuster fundraising hauls ahead of visit

1:53
Shop Mother’s Day Gifts – Exclusive Offers Up to 75% OFF!

Shop Mother’s Day Gifts – Exclusive Offers Up to 75% OFF!

1:54
State budget excludes aid for Orange County storm victims, lawmakers criticize Gov. Hochul

State budget excludes aid for Orange County storm victims, lawmakers criticize Gov. Hochul

Carmel Board of Education expected to approve budget that cuts more than $5 million

Carmel Board of Education expected to approve budget that cuts more than $5 million

0:40
Hochul: $33 million allocated to mental health in the state budget to expand services for felons

Hochul: $33 million allocated to mental health in the state budget to expand services for felons

0:31
Yonkers official calls for protection of city’s war memorial from graffiti, vandalism

Yonkers official calls for protection of city’s war memorial from graffiti, vandalism

2:07
​Officials hope to implement noise cameras to combat loud noise from street racing in Greenburgh

​Officials hope to implement noise cameras to combat loud noise from street racing in Greenburgh

0:36
Police: Father pleads guilty to string of burglaries from 2022

Police: Father pleads guilty to string of burglaries from 2022

0:28
President Biden's visit prompts early dismissals in Westchester schools

President Biden's visit prompts early dismissals in Westchester schools

Vote 2024: Ask your questions for Congressional District 16 Democratic candidates

Vote 2024: Ask your questions for Congressional District 16 Democratic candidates

0:31
Mount St. Mary College welcomes new president

Mount St. Mary College welcomes new president

0:57
Airlines will now be required to give automatic cash refunds for canceled and delayed flights

Airlines will now be required to give automatic cash refunds for canceled and delayed flights

1:49
Proposal for Putnam County lithium-ion battery storage station raises concerns in Westchester

Proposal for Putnam County lithium-ion battery storage station raises concerns in Westchester

0:41
Fire destroys car, damages garage in Rhinebeck

Fire destroys car, damages garage in Rhinebeck

0:32
Repeat offender arrested on trespassing charge in Ulster County

Repeat offender arrested on trespassing charge in Ulster County

News 12 Westchester/Hudson Valley Daily Poll

News 12 Westchester/Hudson Valley Daily Poll

0:28
Police officer's conduct under review following shoplifting incident at Newburgh Walmart

Police officer's conduct under review following shoplifting incident at Newburgh Walmart

0:28
Dutchess County bus driver honored as Bus Driver of the Year

Dutchess County bus driver honored as Bus Driver of the Year