History of Tammy Murphy in Timeline
Tammy Murphy is the First Lady of New Jersey, serving since 2018. A Democrat, she previously worked as a real estate financial analyst and ran for the US Senate in 2024. She is a political activist and co-owns the NJ/NY Gotham FC women's professional soccer team with her husband, Governor Phil Murphy, acting as the organization's chair.
1925: Comparison to Fictional Characters from The Great Gatsby
In the days after her campaign, at least two prominent New Jersey political commentators compared the Murphys on social media to the fictional wealthy couple Tom and Daisy Buchanan from F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1925 novel, The Great Gatsby. This comparison highlighted the perceived elitism and entitlement within their political endeavors.
August 5, 1965: Tammy Murphy is born
Tammy Snyder was born on August 5, 1965 in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
1983: Tammy Murphy Graduates High School
Tammy Murphy graduated from Phillips Academy Andover, a prestigious boarding school, in 1983.
1987: Tammy Murphy Begins Career at Goldman Sachs
After graduating college, Tammy Murphy started her career as a real estate financial analyst at Goldman Sachs in 1987.
1987: Meeting Future Husband Phil Murphy
As a college student in 1987, Tammy Murphy met her future husband Phil when he was dating a friend. This initial encounter sparked a connection that would lead to their future relationship.
1987: Tammy Murphy Graduates College
Tammy Murphy graduated from the University of Virginia in 1987, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and English.
1989: Tammy Murphy Leaves Goldman Sachs
Tammy Murphy left her position at Goldman Sachs in 1989.
1990: Tammy Murphy Starts Working at Investcorp
Tammy Murphy joined Investcorp in London in 1990, continuing her career in finance.
1993: Reconnecting with Phil Murphy
In 1993, Tammy reached out to Phil Murphy after the death of his brother. They had dinner, and within 18 days, they were engaged, marrying six months later. This marked the beginning of their life together.
1993: Tammy Murphy Leaves Investcorp
Tammy Murphy left her position at Investcorp in 1993 at the age of 27.
1994: Tammy Murphy Marries Phil Murphy
Tammy Murphy married Phil Murphy in 1994.
2000: Family Move to Middletown Township, New Jersey
In 2000, the Murphy family, who are avid soccer fans, moved to Middletown Township, New Jersey. This move was part of their family journey and growth.
2000: Tammy Murphy Donates to George W. Bush's and Rick Lazio's Campaigns
Tammy Murphy contributed financially to George W. Bush's presidential campaign and Rick Lazio's Senate campaign in 2000.
2004: Tammy Murphy Donates to Bush-Cheney Campaign
Tammy Murphy donated to the Bush-Cheney campaign in 2004, which advocated for lawsuit immunity for gun manufacturers. This donation was later criticized by Andy Kim's campaign during the 2024 Senate race.
2004: Tammy Murphy Donates to George W. Bush's Presidential Campaign
Tammy Murphy made a donation to George W. Bush's presidential campaign in 2004.
2005: Bush Signs Law Granting Immunity to Gun Manufacturers
In 2005, President Bush signed into law legislation granting lawsuit immunity to gun manufacturers, a policy advocated for by the Bush-Cheney campaign, which received donations from Tammy Murphy in 2004.
2006: Phil Murphy's Retirement from Goldman Sachs
Phil Murphy retired from Goldman Sachs in 2006, marking the end of his career at the firm and the beginning of a new chapter for the Murphy family.
2006: Phil Murphy Becomes Democratic National Committee Finance Chair
Phil Murphy took on the role of finance chair for the Democratic National Committee in 2006.
2007: Tammy and Phil Murphy Co-found NJ/NY Gotham FC
Tammy Murphy and her husband, Phil Murphy, co-founded NJ/NY Gotham FC, a professional women's soccer team, in 2007.
2009: Last Time a County Line-Chosen Incumbent Lost a Primary Election
According to The New York Times, 2009 was the last time a New Jersey legislative incumbent who was chosen to run on the county line in all represented counties lost a primary election.
2009: Al Gore Recruits Tammy Murphy for The Climate Reality Project
Following a significant donation from the Murphys, Al Gore invited Tammy Murphy to become a founding member of The Climate Reality Project, an environmental organization.
2009: Wealth Estimation Reported by Der Spiegel
In 2009, Der Spiegel reported that the Murphys were thought to be worth in the range of several hundred million dollars due to Phil's career and investments.
2009: Phil Murphy Becomes US Ambassador to Germany
Phil Murphy commenced his role as the United States Ambassador to Germany in 2009.
2010: Murphys' Earnings from Investments
From 2010 to 2018, the Murphys earned a combined $41.45 million from their investments and entitlements, showcasing their financial success and investment acumen.
2012: Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting
The Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting occurred in 2012, killing 28 children and educators. This event was later referenced by Andy Kim's campaign when criticizing Tammy Murphy's past voting record on gun control.
2013: Phil Murphy Concludes Ambassadorship
Phil Murphy's tenure as the US Ambassador to Germany concluded in 2013.
2014: Tammy and Phil Murphy Found New Start New Jersey
Tammy Murphy and her husband, Phil Murphy, established New Start New Jersey, a think tank focused on economic growth, in 2014.
2014: Tammy Murphy Switches to Democratic Party
Tammy Murphy ceased voting as a registered Republican in primary elections and became a Democrat in 2014.
2014: Tammy Murphy's Voting Record Shows Republican Affiliation
Tammy Murphy's voting record indicated her affiliation with the Republican Party until 2014.
2015: Tammy Murphy Appointed to University of Virginia Board of Visitors
Tammy Murphy was appointed to the University of Virginia Board of Visitors in 2015.
November 7, 2017: Phil Murphy is Elected Governor of New Jersey
Phil Murphy secured victory in the New Jersey gubernatorial election on November 7, 2017.
2017: Allegations of Misogyny and Assault in Murphy's Campaign
During Phil Murphy's 2017 campaign, several women came forward with allegations of misogyny and sexual assault, prompting investigations and scrutiny of the campaign's culture.
2017: New Start New Jersey Ceases Operations
New Start New Jersey discontinued its operations in 2017 following Phil Murphy's election as Governor of New Jersey.
January 16, 2018: Phil Murphy is Sworn in as Governor
Phil Murphy was officially sworn in as the Governor of New Jersey on January 16, 2018.
2018: Tammy Murphy Reveals Personal Experience with Sexual Assault
During the 2018 Women's March, Tammy Murphy shared her own experience of having been sexually assaulted.
2018: Murphys' Earnings from Investments
From 2010 to 2018, the Murphys earned a combined $41.45 million from their investments and entitlements, showcasing their financial success and investment acumen.
2018: Reports Surface of Issues at NJ/NY Gotham FC
In 2018, various media reports highlighted issues at NJ/NY Gotham FC, including concerns about player housing, facilities, and management.
2018: Tammy Murphy Becomes First Lady of New Jersey
Tammy Murphy assumed the role of First Lady of New Jersey in 2018 when her husband, Phil Murphy, was sworn into office as governor.
2020: Tammy Murphy Serves as Presidential Elector for Joe Biden
Tammy Murphy participated as one of New Jersey's 14 presidential electors representing Joe Biden during the 2020 presidential election.
2021: Launch of Statewide Home Visitation Program for Newborns
In 2021, Governor Phil Murphy signed legislation to launch a statewide, universal home visitation program for newborns in New Jersey. This was a key recommendation from the Nurture NJ Maternal and Infant Health’s Strategic Plan, spearheaded by Tammy Murphy.
2021: Appointment as Honorary Chair of the New Jersey Council on the Green Economy
Tammy Murphy was appointed as the Honorary Chair of the New Jersey Council on the Green Economy in 2021.
July 2023: Praise for Tammy Murphy's Maternal Health Work
In July 2023, The Star-Ledger editorial board praised Tammy Murphy's efforts to address the maternal health crisis in New Jersey.
November 15, 2023: Tammy Murphy Announces Candidacy for US Senate
On November 15, 2023, Tammy Murphy announced her candidacy for the 2024 US Senate election in New Jersey, marking her first run for political office.
November 2023: Reports of Toxic Environment in Phil Murphy's 2017 Campaign
In November 2023, Politico published a report detailing allegations from multiple women who described Phil Murphy's 2017 gubernatorial campaign as having a "toxic" environment for women.
November 17, 2023: Josh Gottheimer Endorses Tammy Murphy
Two days after announcing her candidacy, Tammy Murphy received an endorsement from New Jersey Congressman Josh Gottheimer on November 17, 2023.
December 2023: Criticism of Tammy Murphy's Response to Allegations
In December 2023, Katie Brennan, an aide to Governor Hochul, publicly criticized Tammy Murphy's inaction in response to her claims of sexual assault during Phil Murphy's 2017 campaign.
December 2023: Criticism of Tammy Murphy's Maternal Health Claims
In December 2023, The Star-Ledger editorial board disagreed with Tammy Murphy's claims that her initiatives had improved New Jersey's maternal mortality rate and racial disparities. They argued that progress was slow and lagging behind other states, and that Murphy's claims about improved rankings were misleading.
December 21, 2023: Nicholas Scutari Endorses Tammy Murphy
On December 21, 2023, Nicholas Scutari, the New Jersey state senate president and Union County Democratic chairman, endorsed Tammy Murphy in the Senate race.
2023: Tammy Murphy Identifies as a Homemaker
As of 2023, Tammy Murphy describes herself as a homemaker on tax forms.
January 2024: Tammy Murphy Addresses Past Republican Affiliation
At a candidate forum in January 2024, Tammy Murphy acknowledged and explained her prior registration as a Republican, attributing it to her upbringing in a conservative family.
January 2024: Controversy over Staffer's Call to College Democrats
In January 2024, controversy arose over a recorded phone call in which a staffer for the New Jersey Democratic State Committee pressured executives of the College Democrats of New Jersey regarding their potential endorsement of Andy Kim. The staffer's comments, while defended as non-threatening, were criticized for potentially hindering the group's endorsement process. Tammy Murphy's campaign distanced itself from the staffer's actions and apologized for the incident.
February 2024: Tammy Murphy Releases Campaign Ad on Gun Control
In February 2024, Tammy Murphy released a campaign ad focusing on gun control, leading to criticism from Andy Kim's campaign for her past donations to the Bush-Cheney campaign in 2004.
February 18, 2024: Tammy Murphy States She Has Been a Democrat for 10 Years
During a televised debate on February 18, 2024, Tammy Murphy publicly stated that she had been a member of the Democratic Party for ten years.
March 24, 2024: Tammy Murphy Suspends Her Senate Campaign
On March 24, 2024, Tammy Murphy suspended her campaign for the US Senate, citing concerns about diverting resources from the Democratic party with Donald Trump on the ballot.
2024: Criticism Regarding NJ/NY Gotham FC Conditions
In 2024, Politico reported on criticisms directed at Tammy Murphy regarding the living and playing conditions provided to players on NJ/NY Gotham FC.
2024: Tammy Murphy Addresses Brennan's Criticisms
In 2024, Tammy Murphy responded to Katie Brennan's criticisms, expressing her apology and acknowledging Brennan's experience, while also emphasizing a forward-looking approach.
2024: Tammy Murphy runs in the 2024 US Senate Election
Tammy Murphy competed in the 2024 United States Senate election in New Jersey against incumbent Bob Menendez and Democratic U.S. House Representative Andy Kim.
2024: Tammy Murphy Runs for US Senate
Tammy Murphy declared her candidacy for the United States Senate election in New Jersey in 2024.
