Murphy Names Women to a Majority of Cabinet Posts

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy’s cabinet will set a new record for women appointed to top posts in the Garden State. With one position remaining to be filled, Murphy has tapped 11 women for his 21-member cabinet, ensuring that a majority of the cabinet will be women – at least 52.3 percent, if no more women are appointed.

The landmark was reported by the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP), a unit of the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University-New Brunswick.

Murphy’s appointees include six women of color, four Black women and two Latinas. His appointee to chair the Motor Vehicle Commission is an out lesbian, most likely a first for New Jersey.

“Before the election, Murphy promised the Bipartisan Coalition for Women’s Appointments that ‘We expect our administration to be rich in diversity,’” noted CAWP director Debbie Walsh. “With these appointments, he has fulfilled his commitment.”

Walsh added, “Women’s representation is good news as a matter of simple fairness, and because women bring different backgrounds, perspectives and styles to government. But even more important, this cabinet includes a range of talented, experienced women whose diversity reflects that of New Jersey. A variety of voices is essential for effective government that reflects the needs of the entire state and that’s more good news for all New Jersey’s citizens.”

In addition to his cabinet, Murphy has named women to other key posts in his administration, including Kathleen Frangione, his chief policy advisor and Scarlett Rajski, his director of appointments. Joining them are:  Lynn Haynes, deputy chief of staff for cabinet affairs and operations; Mary K.E. Maples, deputy chief counsel for authorities; and Kate McDonnell, deputy chief counsel. The chief of staff to First Lady Tammy Murphy is also a woman, Stephanie Lagos.

The previous record for women appointees serving at one time in New Jersey was set by Governor Jon Corzine, whose cabinet had at its peak nine women out of 21 members, or 42.9 percent. He was followed by Governors McGreevey, Whitman and Christie. Every chief executive since Governor Tom Kean has had at least 20 percent women in his or her cabinet. (The number of cabinet positions in each administration is determined by the governor, with certain posts always included and others included at the governor’s discretion.)

About the New Jersey Bipartisan Coalition for Women’s Appointments

The New Jersey Bipartisan Coalition for Women’s Appointments (BCWA) is a statewide, bipartisan group of prominent women convened by the Center for American Women and Politics in years when there is an open seat for governor. The purpose of BCWA is to ensure the placement of women in key positions throughout state government. BCWA convened for the first time in 1981.

BCWA’s goals are to:

• create the expectation within both major parties that women will play significant roles in government, both in the cabinet and on boards and commissions; 
• help the next governor identify a strong and diverse pool of women candidates for positions within the new administration;
• educate New Jersey women about the thousands of state, county and municipal appointed positions available; 
• encourage New Jersey women to submit their résumés for gubernatorial appointments and provide them the tools and information they need to seek appointments. 

The Coalition is led by a bipartisan convening committee. See the list of committee members here.