New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) issued one executive order from May 1-7. As of May 7, Murphy has issued 15 executive orders in 2023 — four fewer than he did at this point a year ago. The order is:
- Executive Order No. 328, where the governor ordered flags flown at half-staff in recognition of the anniversary of State Trooper Werner Foerster’s death.
Governors use executive orders to manage executive branch operations. During the week of May 1-7, the nation’s governors issued 26 executive orders. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) issued the most with 16. Governors in 41 states issued the fewest orders with zero. Republican governors issued 19 of the 26 orders, while Democratic governors issued seven.
Murphy has served as governor since Jan. 16, 2018. He issued 37 executive orders in 2022 and 66 in 2021. Nationally, governors issued at least 1,558 executive orders in 2022. Governors have issued 568 executive orders in 2023. Republican governors issued 371, while Democratic governors issued 197. New Jersey is a Democratic trifecta, meaning Democrats control the governorship and both chambers of the state legislature.
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