NJ Senator-Elect Durr Fires Back At Gov. Murphy Over Elections

WEST DEPTFORD, NJ — Newly-elected State Senator Edward Durr is firing back at Gov. Phil Murphy after statements Murphy made on Monday that Durr says “show all of New Jersey how big a hypocrite he is.”

On Monday, the Murphy Campaign state that the fact that Jack Ciattarelli isn’t conceding the gubernatorial election after The Associated Press projected Murphy as the winner is an “assault on the integrity of our elections.”

However, Murphy also supports State Senate President Steve Sweeney’s right to have every vote counted before conceding an election The Associated Press projected Durr has already won.

“To refer to anyone who doesn’t concede an election as dangerous disgusts me,” Durr said. “In any election, we should wait for every legal vote to be counted before a concession is offered or victory is declared. That’s exactly why I have not declared victory over Senate President Steve Sweeney and have not expected a call from him to concede.”

Murphy had addressed both positions during a news conference on Monday.

“We’re going to count every vote,” Murphy said. “That’s going to happen, but I think it’s incredibly dangerous when it’s mathematically impossible. It’s more than winning and losing. It gets to the question of what it means to be an American and respect the institutions that we count on as a society.”

He said he doesn’t know the numbers in the race between Durr and Sweeney, in which Durr unseated the Democrat who has been the State Senate President for 20 years. Read more here: Trucker With $153 Campaign Unseats NJ Senate President

Without knowing the numbers, Murphy said he will stand by Sweeney’s decision not to concede.

“Murphy has not called on Sweeney to concede, claiming he didn‘t know the math on the race. That statement is untrue given the fact our campaign consultant was quoted as saying ‘mathematically it’s over’ last week,” Durr said. “Murphy’s hypocrisy knows no bounds.

“Phil Murphy is not what America is all about, he’s the dangerous guy who killed 10,000 nursing home residents and destroyed the lives of countless hardworking New Jerseyans. The only reason Murphy wants a concession is so he can get back to work to see how many more lives he can ruin with his lousy policies.”

Durr describes himself as a constitutional conservative, and his campaign focused on lowering property taxes and making New Jersey more business-friendly. He has come under fire for some controversial tweets he had previously sent out.

He apologized for one in which he referred to Islam as a cult of hate, and he agreed to meet with leaders in the Muslim community. Durr also said he has no personal issues with Sweeney.

“My differences with Senator Sweeney are political, not personal,” Durr said. “I’m going to wait until every legal vote is counted before I declare victory because that is what America is all about. I suggest Murphy stop being petty and do the same for Jack Ciattarelli.”

Sweeney has said he will make a statement about his next course of action on Tuesday, according to The New Jersey Globe.

The General Assembly race in the 3rd Legislative District has yet to be called, but Republicans Beth Sawyer and Bethanne McCarthy Patrick maintain their lead over Democratic incumbents John Burzichelli and Adam Taliaferro by about 3,000 votes, according to numbers updated by The Associated Press Tuesday morning.