In New Jersey, some see old-school politics giving way to spring amid corruption scandal | KLRT [Video]

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey has a well-earned reputation as a home to backroom political dealing.

But advocates hoping to break the boss-dominated culture in this Democratic stronghold say the ongoing corruption case against Sen. Bob Menendez might have opened the door to a new era in Garden State politics.

Many progressives were cheered this weekend when Tammy Murphy withdrew from a closely watched Senate primary, since they viewed her as someone who was benefiting from a system they argue gives party leaders undue influence. The well-connected wife of New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy dropped her bid to succeed Menendez, who had said days before that he wouldn’t seek another term as a Democrat, in the blue-tilting state.

Murphy’s departure followed closely on the heels of a hearing in a New Jersey courtroom on Rep. Andy Kim’s lawsuit to topple that system. Hours before the hearing, the state’s attorney …