TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy was inaugurated for a second term Tuesday, taking the oath of office under strict COVID-19 testing, vaccination and masking requirements, and declaring that New Jersey's progressive policies could work nationwide.
Murphy was reelected in a close race in November, becoming the first Democrat to win reelection in more than four decades. He won in part on a slate of accomplishments he and the Democrat-led Legislature achieved, including a higher minimum wage, recreational marijuana legalization and paid sick leave.
The speech comes in the wake of record coronavirus case spikes and hospitalization rates, led by the omicron variant, though state data over recent days shows dips in those figures. The speech also coincides with President Joe Biden's struggle to get parts of his agenda through Congress, where Democrats have a slim majority in the Senate.
Murphy notched a number of self-styled progressive policy accomplishments in his first term and promised Tuesday to pursue additional stricter gun control measures, expansion of pre-K for 3-year-olds and additional funding for K-12 education to take pressure off local governments that enact property taxes.
He said the country could look to New Jersey for policies that work, though he didn't address how New Jersey tends to be more Democratic than the nation.
“If you want to know what the future looks like, if you want to understand what America can be, come to New Jersey," he said.
He campaigned as a vocal progressive and warned in campaign stops that a GOP victory would push the Democrat-leaning state much farther to the right than many of its residents.
Tuesday, he aimed at putting the divisive language behind him.
“I renew my pledge to be the governor for all of...
