Phil Murphy

56th and current Governor of New Jersey, former ambassador to Germany 2009-2013.

What is Phil Murphy known for?

Philip Dunton Murphy, known as Phil Murphy, was born on August 16, 1957, in Needham, Massachusetts. A proud alumni of Needham High School, his journey to a prominent figure in political and financial arenas started from these humble beginnings. He is the 56th and current Governor of New Jersey and has been serving since 2018. Moreover, his contribution to the country's diplomatic relations was substantial when he held the role of United States Ambassador to Germany from 2009 to 2013, during Barack Obama's presidential tenure.

Before his venture into politics, Murphy had a successful 23-year-long career at Goldman Sachs, working his way up to several high-level positions at the financial institution. He retired from Goldman Sachs in 2006 but continued his involvement with several civic organizations and philanthropic pursuits. He further served as finance chairman for the Democratic National Committee in the mid-late 2000s under Howard Dean.

Known for his proactivity and initiative, Murphy and his wife, Tammy Murphy, launched a progressive organization called New Start New Jersey, showing their commitment to building a stronger, fairer New Jersey. His political victories include defeating Republican Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno in the 2017 gubernatorial elections and winning an unexpectedly close race in 2021 against the Republican nominee Jack Ciattarelli. This triumph made Murphy the first Democratic governor of New Jersey to win a second term since Brendan Byrne did so in 1977.

Murphy's notable achievements also include his tenure as chair of the Democratic Governors Association and, in July 2022, becoming the first National Governors Association chair from New Jersey.

Delving into his early life, Murphy was born to Dorothy Louise Dunton and Walter F. Murphy, both enthusiastic supporters of John F. Kennedy and campaigners in the 1952 United States Senate election in Massachusetts. Murphy, who is of Irish American descent, recalls his childhood as "middle class on a good day," as his parents lived paycheck to paycheck. Despite these circumstances, Murphy's passion for soccer and later interest in politics laid the foundation of his journey towards being a significant figure in American political history.

More about Phil Murphy can be found on his DBpedia page.