Photo: Office of the Governor
The following is a statement by Lawrence Hamm, Chairman, People’s Organization For Progression, and former U.S. Senate candidate endorsing Governor Phil Murphy and Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver in the upcoming gubernatorial race in New Jersey:
I urge every person who is registered to vote in the upcoming November 2, 2021general election in New Jersey. In the gubernatorial race I am voting for and have given my personal endorsement to the incumbents Governor Phil Murphy and Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver who are the Democratic Party candidates.
I urge everyone to vote for the Murphy and Oliver team. I am voting for them because I believe their policies will be better for our communities than those of the Republican candidates Jack Ciattarelli who is running for governor and Diane Allen for lieutenant governor.
More importantly, I believe that a Republican victory in New Jersey will strengthen the Republican Party, the party of Trump, and the white nationalist, racist and fascist movement in this country. These are dark and difficult times but I urge voters not to give into despair, complacency, and apathy.
The race for governor in New Jersey is very close. The last poll I saw said that there is only a six point difference between Murphy and his Republican opponent. Do not stay home on Election Day. Vote in record numbers like we did in 2020 for the presidential election.
When I ran for U.S. Senate in the Democratic primary election last year I received nearly 119,000 votes. I am asking every person that voted for me to cast your vote next Tuesday for Murphy and Oliver. Those of you who voted for me could provide the margin of victory for Murphy and Oliver.
This is an unsolicited endorsement. No one in the Murphy campaign has officially or unofficially asked me to do this. It has not been paid for by the Murphy campaign, any political action committee or any other entity.
I decided to do this after I went to the first campaign debate between Murphy and his opponent. I left that debate with the impression that the Republican candidate should not be the next governor of this state.
I don’t agree with the Murphy administration on every issue. I will continue to struggle to hold the administration accountable.
However, I am urging people to vote for Murphy and Oliver because I believe that it is the best course of action the people of this state, especially working people, poor people, the middle class, and people of color can take.
