A playful feud has erupted between New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and Connecticut Governor Ted Lamont over which state can claim the title of America's pizza capital. The dispute was sparked by new highway signs in Connecticut declaring it as the home of the best pizza in the country, a claim that Governor Murphy vehemently disputes. In a tongue-in-cheek Twitter war, Murphy retorted, "You're not even the pizza capital of the tri-state area."
The claim to pizza supremacy by Connecticut is not without merit. In May 2024, Connecticut Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro managed to get a statement into the Congressional Record declaring New Haven, known for its thin-crusted 'apizza', as the Pizza Capital of the U.S. This declaration was celebrated by pizza makers from across Connecticut who traveled to the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., to support the proclamation. According to the New Haven Register, DeLauro's declaration reads in part, “For more than a century, New Haven has been home to some of the most famous pizzerias in the country, known for everything from a plain sauce to white clam to mashed potato.”
Despite this official recognition, Governor Murphy remains unconvinced and continues to champion New Jersey's pizza. As the debate continues, pizza lovers in both states are undoubtedly enjoying the attention their favorite dish is receiving.