Phil Murphy's Time in Office: A Mixed Bag

Phil Murphy stepped into the governor's role with big promises and a lot of money behind him. But after eight years, what does he leave behind? He wasn't as flashy or controversial as his predecessor, Chris Christie. Instead, he brought a calm and competent vibe, which was a breath of fresh air for many. But his time in office wasn't all smooth sailing. He made some big mistakes, like how he handled sexual assault claims in his office and the state's nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also backed his wife for a Senate seat, which didn't go well. These issues hurt his popularity, but they didn't blow up into huge scandals like Bridgegate.In the end, Murphy won his second term by a narrow margin. His close call pushed the Democratic Party to focus more on making life more affordable for people. He also shook up the political scene when Andy Kim challenged the usual way things were done, leading to Tammy Murphy stepping back from her Senate run. Murphy had his eyes on bigger political stages, but he never quite made it there. His big campaign promises, like free community college and universal child care, didn't happen. But he did legalize recreational marijuana, so there's that. Next time you smell weed in your apartment, you'll know who to thank—or blame.