Outgoing New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said he hasn’t ruled out a 2028 presidential bid but called it unlikely in the near term, announcing plans to "go off the grid" for a few months to recharge. Murphy leaves office after winning two consecutive terms and with mixed approval ratings, including a 35% job approval in a recent Emerson/PIX11/The Hill poll. Mikie Sherrill will succeed him and has pledged to address utilities, social-media safety for minors, and federal oversight. National speculation for 2028 already names Gavin Newsom and former Vice President Kamala Harris as potential contenders.
Phil Murphy Leaves Door Ajar on 2028 Presidential Run — 'I Wouldn't Put a Lot of Money on That'
Outgoing New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) said Sunday he has not formally ruled out a 2028 presidential bid, but he cautioned the public not to expect an immediate campaign.
“I haven’t taken anything off the table … but I wouldn’t put a lot of money on that,” Murphy told ABC News. “We’re going to take some time off, go off the grid for a few months, recharge, reload, and then we’ll see where we go from there.”
Murphy, who in 2021 became the first Democratic governor since 1981 to win two consecutive terms in New Jersey, leaves office with mixed approval ratings. An October Emerson College/PIX11/The Hill survey put his job approval at 35 percent — a figure that, in that poll, trailed President Trump’s approval.
Transition and Local Outlook
He will be succeeded by former U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.), who defeated Republican Jack Ciattarelli decisively in November and subsequently resigned her House seat. Sherrill has pledged to tackle high utility costs, adopt safety measures for minors on social media, and pursue oversight of the federal government where she sees fit.
National Implications
Murphy’s comments come as early jockeying for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination is already underway. California Gov. Gavin Newsom has emerged as an early frontrunner, earning praise for his vocal criticism of former President Trump and for pursuing a congressional redistricting plan seen as favorable to Democrats. Former Vice President Kamala Harris has also been mentioned as a potential contender.
Speculation about Murphy follows signs of Republican gains in the Garden State. Murphy’s 2021 reelection margin was relatively narrow, and the state’s recent national results were closer than in some past cycles; nevertheless, Democrats’ stronger-than-expected performance in last November’s contests gave the party renewed momentum in New Jersey.
For now, Murphy says he plans to step back from the spotlight to recharge before deciding on any future political moves. Whether he ultimately joins the 2028 field remains uncertain, but his public remarks leave the possibility open.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
