Former President Barack Obama was in Newark on Saturday to stump for Governor Phil Murphy's reelection and kick off New Jersey’s first-ever in-person early voting period.
"You can't be tired. Go out there!" Obama told a crowd gathered at Weequahic Park in the city's South Ward. "You are going to decide this election and the direction of New Jersey and this country for generations to come. Do not sit this one out!"
Obama urged voters to turn out early, vote by mail or show up to cast a ballot on Election Day, November 2nd. Murphy had previously served as Obama’s Ambassador to Germany, before being elected governor in 2017. A Democratic governor has not been reelected in New Jersey since 1977.
“This work is too important to leave to chance,” Obama said.
Murphy signed a bill earlier this year to institute early in-person voting in the Garden State. Voters will be able to cast an early ballot at designated polling sites in each county through October 31st. Murphy set the example earlier in the day, when the Monmouth County resident cast his ballot in Long Branch.
Joining Murphy in Newark were local and state elected officials, along with Kal Penn, a Montclair-born actor known for his role in the Harold and Kumar movies, who later went on to hold a job in the Obama Administration.
“I hope you vote Jersey, which means early and aggressive,” Penn told the crowd.
Murphy is attempting to beat Republican challenger Jack Ciattarelli on November 2nd. Murphy is favored to win reelection, though recent polling shows his lead over Ciattarelli is tightening.
“Listen, the math is simple: Our team is bigger than their team. Our team shows up, we win,” Murphy said.
