The decision by sitting U.S. Rep. Andy Kim (D-3) to run for the United States Senate next year prompted a collision between two Democratic assembly people from Kim’s home county of Burlington vying for Kim’s congressional seat.

Burlington County Democratic Party Chair Joe Andl picked a side, backing Assemblyman Herb Conaway over Assemblywoman Carol Murphy.

That prompted Murphy to respond.

Below, find Andl’s official endorsement of Conaway, followed by Murphy’s official rejoinder to that endorsement.

First, Andl’s endorsement of Conaway:

Today Burlington County Democratic Party Chair Joe Andl announced his endorsement of Dr. Herb Conaway for New Jersey’s 3rd Congressional District. Chairman Andl is the first endorsement for Dr. Conaway’s bid for Congress.

“Dr. Herb Conaway is a vital leader in our community. From his work as physician, to the halls of the Assembly, to his tireless efforts serving the residents of Burlington County as Health Director during the pandemic, Dr. Conaway will be a tireless advocate for our families in Washington. I am proud to lend my enthusiastic support and personal endorsement to his campaign for Congress.” said Chairman Joe Andl.

“I am proud to have the endorsement of Chairman Andl. Serving Burlington County as a physician and in the New Jersey Legislature has been the honor of my life. I am ready to take that same work ethic and commitment to Congress. New Jersey families across the 3rd Congressional District deserve leadership that will fight back against the extremism and chaos in Washington.” said Dr. Herb Conaway.

About Dr. Herb Conaway

Dr. Herb Conaway, the son of a teacher and nurse, is a proud lifelong resident of Burlington County. Shaped by the service of his parents and community, Herb knew from a young age he wanted to serve his community and pursued an education in medicine after graduating from public high school. Dr. Conaway received an undergrad degree from Princeton University, a medical degree from Jefferson Medical College and finally a law degree from Rutgers Law School in Camden.

After finishing his education, Herb joined the U.S. Air Force, becoming a Captain in the Medical Corps at McGuire Air Force Base. There, he served as general medical officer and rose to assistant director of the primary care clinic during his four years of service.

Following his internal medicine residency, Dr. Conaway began practice in primary care settings before moving on to work as a clinical professor in an inner-city, community hospital teaching the next generation of physicians.

Dr. Conaway has faithfully served the residents of the 7th Legislative District as an Assemblyman for 25 years. In the New Jersey Legislature, Dr. Conaway is Chairman of the Health Committee, a member of the Budget Committee, and a member of the Military and Veterans Affairs Committee. In these roles, Dr. Conaway played a leading role in passing New Jersey’s most significant health laws; sponsored New Jersey’s school funding formula; increased fiscal accountability within school districts; added technology to core curriculum standards; and modernized nutritional standards in public schools. Finally, he has sponsored successful legislation on environmental protection, property tax relief, veterans services, and public safety.

The following is a letter by Assemblywoman Carol Murphy, Democratic candidate for Congress, in response to Burlington County Democratic Chairman Joe Andl’s endorsement of Assemblyman Herb Conaway’s congressional candidacy.

Dear fellow Burlington County Democrat,

Happy Holidays! I’m writing on the heels of an unprecedented endorsement earlier this week for the
congressional seat soon to be vacated by Burlington County’s favorite son, Congressman Andy Kim.
Astonishingly, I don’t remember a Democratic county chairperson anywhere in New Jersey on their own to announce an endorsement of this magnitude without being joined by other Democratic political figures and elected officials. To put into perspective how unprecedented Chairman Andl’s endorsement of Herb Conaway is, we can look no further than Andl hasn’t publicly endorsed Burlington County’s own Congressman Andy Kim in his bid for the United States Senate.

I’ve known Herb Conaway for more than two decades and have served alongside him, and I respect his service to our community. Simply, we deserve and should demand a fair and open process where Democrats can choose the best nominee rather than have a decree from Chairman Joe Andl believing he has the only voice that matters in an attempt to subvert the will of Democrats in Burlington County.

These actions cause massive primary fights from the top of the ticket down to county offices, mayors, and municipal officials.

Many of us, having been involved in Democratic Party politics in Burlington County, understand the unprecedented nature of this action. Many candidates in the past have sought endorsements before a Burlington County Democratic Party Committee convention only to be firmly rebuffed because it is “not how we do things.” This approach goes against the values we have espoused in Burlington County and why so many Democratic grassroots activists have been outraged at the treatment Andy Kim has received around the state – seeing it happen in Congressman Kim’s backyard is tremendously disrespectful and frankly hypocritical.

I fully intend to secure the support to run with President Biden and campaign hard down the ballot to elect Democrats to offices of county commissioner, mayor, and all municipal positions. We are in this together, and as the Democratic nominee for Congress, I view my role as increasing votes for all Democrats, which has been the hallmark of my legislative campaigns.

I wanted you to hear it from me: when I announced my intention to run for Congress, I said that a woman in politics never expects to have something handed to her. The evidence of that stands before you today.

Despite an unprecedented thumb on the scale by the county party chairman, I intend to earn the votes I will receive on my way to winning the Democratic Party nomination and count on me to run hard through the tape to be the first congresswoman in the history of South Jersey!

I look forward to asking for your vote personally, and together; we will play a pivotal role in winning back a house majority and deliver victories for our tremendous Democratic candidates in Burlington County.

Now, here’s the question: