Gov. Phil Murphy delivered his eighth and final State of the State address today; these are his remarks as prepared for deliver:
Lieutenant Governor Way. Senate President Scutari. Assembly Speaker Coughlin. Majority Leaders Ruiz and Greenwald. Minority Leaders Bucco and DiMaio. Members of the 222nd Legislature, with special thanks to the rockin’ bipartisan escort committee that walked me into this chamber.
Chief Justice Rabner and Justices of the Supreme Court. Members of the Cabinet. Senior staff. Former Governors DiFrancesco, McGreevey, and Corzine.
At a moment like this, I know we all miss former Governor — and the longest-serving lawmaker in New Jersey history — Dick Codey, who we lost over the weekend. Whether as an elected leader, a youth basketball coach, or even a funeral director: Dick was always there for us. He was there for me back when it was cold, dark, and lonely. And he would have been here today. Dick’s wife, Mary Jo, and their son, Kevin, are with us this afternoon. To them, and to the entire Codey family: We are sending you our deepest condolences and love. God bless you all.
First Lady Tammy Murphy and our four children, Josh, Emma, Charlie, and Sam. Distinguished faith leaders, veterans, our brothers and sisters in labor, friends. And my fellow New Jerseyans.
I come before you today with two words: Thank you. Thank you for entrusting me with the sacred responsibility of serving as Governor. Thank you for welcoming me into your homes, your workplaces, your schools, and your houses of worship. Thank you for always telling me the truth and for being authentic. And if I may summon the spirit of my dear friend and another one of my predecessors, Governor Brendan Byrne, thank you for occasionally waving to me with all five fingers.
But thank you, most of all, for joining me in this journey to ensure we leave our children a state that is better than we found it.
Eight years ago this month, we began our partnership. And in just under eight short days, it will come to a close. So during these final hours, it fills me with pride and joy to say: Together, we have built a New Jersey that is stronger AND fairer than ever before. We were who we said we’d be — and we did what we said we’d do.
Now, I know these are words you’ve heard before. But there is a reason I have been relentless in realizing my vision for a “stronger and fairer” New Jersey since Day One — and really, since I launched my first campaign back in 2016, a full decade ago. This isn’t simply a slogan. It is my North Star, one that has guided me since childhood and throughout my career.
Back in January 2018, New Jersey was a state in dire need of a turnaround — failed by previous generations of leaders, losing faith in Trenton, and falling far short of our potential. When I entered office, the needs of the people — especially working families — were being pushed aside. And in each family being neglected and overlooked, I saw my own parents, who struggled financially. My dad did the best he could to put food on the table. My mom was a secretary by day and an overextended caregiver by night. I still don’t know how they managed.
Despite the arc of my own life — from banker, to diplomat, to Governor — I am more than anything the kid with a goofy grin who grew up in a family that was middle class on a good day. Our house was so small that I slept in my parents’ bedroom until I was nine. By age 13, it was my turn to help put food on the table. Phil Murphy the investment banker got his start as Phil Murphy the dishwasher — and I still do the dishes.
We didn’t have much, but we had each other. We dreamed of a better future grounded in hope, faith, and hard work. The portraits of the Pope and John F. Kennedy hung in our kitchen — our nightly dinner guests. For my siblings and me, JFK, RFK, and MLK were constant inspirations. They taught us to believe government had our backs, and just as importantly, that we had a responsibility to shape our own destiny. As JFK said in 1957: “Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer but the right answer… let us accept our own responsibility for the future.”
That belief — that we only win when we all win — defines who I am. And it defines our work together. Too often political choices are framed as either/or: growth or equality, workers or businesses, Republicans or Democrats. I reject that. The best governing principle is not “this or that.” It’s “stronger AND fairer.”
That courage — to defy false choices — guided every major decision we made these past eight years. At every turn, we stayed true to our vision. When they said raising the minimum wage would kill jobs, we raised it — and built the fastest-growing economy in the Northeast. When they said supporting workers meant hurting small businesses, we proved them wrong and created more good-paying jobs than ever. When they said taxing millionaires would drive them away, we enacted a fairer system — and now have more millionaires and more families calling New Jersey home than ever before.
We increased school funding to historic levels AND delivered more property tax relief than any administration in history. We restored long-neglected investments AND secured nine credit rating upgrades after a generation of downgrades. We reduced the prison population AND brought homicides to record lows. We rebuilt trust in fiscal leadership while strengthening the social safety net.
New Jersey today is a state brimming with opportunity. Working families earn higher wages and stronger benefits. Grandparents can afford to retire near loved ones. Children in places like Camden, Trenton, and Newark have the resources they need to learn. Affordability remains a national crisis, but we have eased the burden through property tax relief, lower health care costs, increased housing supply, and new economic opportunities — all while strengthening the labor movement at every turn.
None of this was easy. And none of it was inevitable. We faced unimaginable challenges — above all, the COVID-19 pandemic. New Jersey was ground zero. I still remember March 4, 2020, waking from surgery to the news that our state had its first confirmed case. We followed the science, made hard choices, and leaned on public health leaders like Commissioner Judy Persichilli. More than 35,000 New Jerseyans were lost — a number that remains impossible to grasp. We honor them today and always.
We also honor the first responders, nurses, doctors, police officers, firefighters, National Guard members, and EMTs — heroes like Pat Callahan, whose wife Linda we lost this weekend. To Pat and the entire Callahan family, we send our love.
We confronted not only a public health crisis but also an assault on American democracy. We honor the memory of New Jersey’s own Brian Sicknick, killed defending the Capitol on January 6. Thanks to Lieutenant Governor Tahesha Way, our democracy is stronger than ever, with expanded early voting, restored voting rights, automatic registration, and record turnout.
We fought back against national attacks on reproductive rights, codifying abortion access before the Dobbs decision and making New Jersey a safe haven for reproductive freedom. We reaffirmed New Jersey’s leadership on gun safety and environmental protection.
We strengthened our State Supreme Court with five justices reflecting a diversity of backgrounds and viewpoints. And we stood up for immigrant families under threat.
We also endured heartbreaking personal losses: brilliant public servant Louisa Carman, whose legacy lives on through medical debt relief for nearly 800,000 New Jerseyans; Joe Fiordaliso, champion of clean energy; and my beloved friend and partner in government, Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver, whose vision for justice and opportunity lives on through her foundation and her work.
Through it all, we emerged more determined than ever to build a stronger and fairer New Jersey. And let me be clear: every accomplishment belonged to all of us — the thousands of public servants who labored day and night. To them, I offer my deepest gratitude.
And to Tammy — my partner, my inspiration — I love you more today than ever. Her leadership transformed maternal and infant health in New Jersey. Our children — Josh, Emma, Charlie, and Sam — endured this journey with grace, resilience, and love.
Today, New Jersey is ready to own the future. Innovation is surging from Hoboken to Hopewell, Newark to New Brunswick. Under Tim Sullivan’s leadership, the NJEDA launched 12 Strategic Innovation Centers fueling breakthroughs in life sciences, fintech, aerospace, and more. These seeds will blossom into the next great New Jersey companies.
Our film and television industry is booming. Netflix is building a 500,000-square-foot studio at Fort Monmouth. Lionsgate is opening Newark’s first purpose-built studio. Bayonne is constructing the continent’s largest new studio, 1888 Studios, now home to Paramount Skydance. Hollywood, watch your back — the state that gave you Tony Soprano is coming for its close-up.
We are also leading in generative AI. Our AI Moonshot has positioned New Jersey at the forefront of innovation, partnering with Princeton University, Microsoft, and Coreweave. We’ve modernized government through secure AI tools and used AI to feed 100,000 food-insecure children. At the same time, we passed nation-leading laws to combat deepfakes and protect children’s privacy — including a bell-to-bell cell phone ban in schools.
Our economy is thriving. Our workforce is unmatched. Our innovation ecosystem is world-class. But we must not repeat past mistakes. Fiscal responsibility is an obligation, not an option. We achieved five consecutive full pension payments, rebuilt our surplus to nearly $7 billion, and earned nine credit rating upgrades. That progress can vanish quickly if carelessness returns.
Fixing NJ TRANSIT will outlast my tenure, but we have put the agency on a path forward — replacing the entire fleet by 2031 and improving reliability. It is no longer a question of “if,” only “when.”
I have never been more optimistic about our future, in part because our state is in good hands. Governor-Elect Mikie Sherrill and Lieutenant Governor-Elect Dale Caldwell are ready. Mikie, a Naval aviator who navigated Congress with grit and grace, will make New Jersey proud.
This transition arrives at a historic moment — the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution and the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Both events will take place right here in New Jersey. We will honor our Revolutionary history and showcase our global identity. From cheering Team USA to celebrating ancestral pride in communities across the state, New Jersey will shine.
Because New Jersey is where the American Dream was born — and where it lives on. In every diner from Hackensack to Carneys Point. In every house of worship. In every college classroom. In every worker rebuilding boardwalks or tunnels.
If you’re in New Jersey, you’re part of this big, boisterous family, writing the next chapter of the American story. And if anyone ever tells you otherwise, you stand up straight, get in their face, and tell them:
WE’RE FROM JERSEY, BABY!
Thank you. God bless you and your families. And may God continue to bless the State of New Jersey and the United States of America.
