Outgoing Gov. Phil Murphy was not in New Jersey when a state of emergency was declared Saturday night, leaving Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way — now serving as acting governor — to make the declaration in his stead.
“In preparation for this storm, I am issuing a State of Emergency for all 21 counties out of an abundance of caution, authorizing our state’s emergency services personnel to activate as necessary,” Way announced in a statement Saturday.
Murphy, a term-limited Democrat known for taking frequent vacations, often to his luxe Italian villa, made no public announcement about his travel plans as the powerful nor’easter is expected to barrel through the state, with the potential to cause significant damage.
Gov. Phil Murphy was nowhere to be seen today. AP
Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way declared a state of emergency in the Garden State. NJ.govMurphy’s office sent his public schedule in an Oct. 8 email to reporters announcing he would be traveling to Europe with his wife, Tammy, on Oct. 9 and return to New Jersey on Oct. 14.
“Governor Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy are out of state this weekend to attend a close family friend’s wedding in Europe. The Governor has been in close communication with his team and emergency response officials regarding the nor’easter storm impacting the East Coast,” Murphy spokesman Tyler Jones told The Post early Sunday evening.
Jones did not say whether Murphy planned to cut his trip short in light of the storm.
Way serves as New Jersey’s secretary of state and was sworn in as lieutenant governor in September 2023 after the death of her predecessor, Sheila Oliver, who was serving as acting governor at the time of her death while Murphy was again out of the country on vacation.
Murphy’s jet-setting ways have left him open to criticism in the past.
In December 2021, Murphy was slammed for taking an eight-day Christmas vacation with his family to Costa Rica as the state was setting new records for COVID-19 infections. The Murphy family had traveled to the country in 2019, then again in 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Way’s social media posts announcing the state of emergency declaration were met by puzzled responses, with some wondering where Murphy was.
“Where is the governor?” one commenter inquired.
“Who are you?” asked another.
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