Governor Murphy is running for a second term, having been elected Governor in 2017 after serving as the United States Ambassador to Germany from 2009 to 2013. Governor Murphy is running against anti-equality extremist Jack Ciattarelli whose discriminatory rhetoric and prejudicial policy agenda for New Jersey are wholly disqualifying.

“Governor Phil Murphy is a national leader in advancing rights and protections for LGBTQ+ people,” said Human Rights Campaign Senior Vice President of Policy & Political Affairs, JoDee Winterhof. “Murphy has placed equality front and center to ensure LGBTQ+ New Jerseyans can live in safety and thrive. The Human Rights Campaign is proud to endorse Governor Murphy as he leads New Jersey toward fulfilling the promise of full equality for all. The re-election of Governor Murphy is crucial given the discriminatory rhetoric, record, and policy proposals put forth by his anti-equality opponent Jack Ciattarelli, whose vote against marriage equality and vow to eliminate the state’s LGBTQ+-inclusive curriculum make him a dangerous choice for the future of New Jersey.”

"I am honored to stand with the Human Rights Campaign in the fight to ensure full equality for all," said New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy. "LGBTQ+ rights are human rights, and we’re committed to making New Jersey a national model of inclusion."

Governor Murphy has a long and distinguished record of advancing protections for LGBTQ+ New Jerseyans. Earlier this year, Murphy signed into law legislation that established the “LGBTQI+ Senior Bill of Rights,” which protects LGBTQ+ and HIV-positive residents of long-term care facilities. He also signed into law legislation requiring LGBTQ+-inclusive curriculum be adopted in New Jersey middle and high schools. Governor Murphy signed legislation into law that banned the “gay and trans panic” legal defense and he made history by appointing the first three openly LGBTQ+ cabinet members in the state of New Jersey.

In his first term as governor, Murphy has also been a national leader on transgender and non-binary protections. In 2018, Murphy signed the Babs Siperstein Law, named after the late transgender advocate Barbara “Babs” Siperstein, which permits New Jersey residents to amend their birth certificates to reflect their gender identity. Murphy also signed into law legislation that mandated accurate gender identity be reflected on death certificates in the state. In 2019, he created the Transgender Equality Task Force to disrupt discrimination and harassment of transgender New Jerseyans amidst an epidemic of violence against transgender people across the country.

In 2012, New Jersey gubernatorial challenger Jack Ciattarelli voted against marriage equality as a state legislator. He also voted to deny transgender people the opportunity to change the gender marker on their birth certificate. As a candidate for governor, Ciattarelli promised to “rollback” New Jersey’s LGBTQ+-inclusive curriculum.