Two of New Jersey’s top Democrats — U.S. Sen. Cory Booker and Gov. Phil Murphy — called for Democratic Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam to resign after a racist photo from his medical school yearbook 35 years ago surfaced Friday.

Media outlets published a photo from Northam’s page in the 1984 Eastern Virginia Medical School yearbook that shows two people standing next to each other, one dressed in blackface and the other wearing a full Ku Klux Klan uniform. Northam released a statement Friday confirming he was in the photo, though he did not say which outfit he was wearing.

Northam also apologized but said he’d remain in office.

Still, Booker, only hours after announcing he is running for president, took to Twitter Friday night to say Northam should step down. The New Jersey senator said the images “arouse centuries of anger, anguish, and racist violence and they’ve eroded all confidence in Gov. Northam’s ability to lead.”

These images arouse centuries of anger, anguish, and racist violence and they’ve eroded all confidence in Gov. Northam’s ability to lead. We should expect more from our elected officials. He should resign. — Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) February 2, 2019

Murphy made similar comments during an appearance on MSNBC earlier in the evening, saying behavior that is unacceptable in 2019 “was just as unacceptable in 1984.”

“We’re the party of inclusion,” the New Jersey governor continued. “The Ku Klux Klan is a terrorist organization.”

“I don’t see the governor’s got any other choice than to step aside,” Murphy said. “I say with a heavy heart because I know him, and I believe he’s a good man. But it’s disqualifying. Particularly at this moment in time, with the division in this country.”

Murphy’s comments take on particular weight because he is vice chairman of the Democratic Governors Association, a group that works to elect Democrats to governorships across the country. Murphy will be the group’s chairman in 2020.

BREAKING: "I don't see that the governor has any other choice but to step aside," New Jersey Gov. Murphy tells @chrislhayes after revelation of Virginia Gov. Northam in racist 1980s yearbook photo. pic.twitter.com/N2Bwl57Pjl — MSNBC (@MSNBC) February 2, 2019

Several other Democrats and progressive groups also called for Northam’s resignation. So did the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus, as well as the state’s Senate and House Democrats.

Northam apologized twice Friday, first in the written statement, in which he said the costume he was wearing is “clearly racist and offensive.”

“This behavior is not in keeping with who I am today and the values I have fought for throughout my career in the military, in medicine, and in public service," he said. “But I want to be clear, I understand how this decision shakes Virginians’ faith in that commitment.”

Ralph Northam's page from the 1984 yearbook of Eastern Virginia Medical School.

Later in the night, he issued a video in which he said he was “deeply sorry” but said he was committed to finishing the remainder of his rookie term, which is set to end in 2022.

“I accept responsibility for my past actions and I am ready to do the hard work of regaining your trust,” Northam said in the clip.

My fellow Virginians, earlier today I released a statement apologizing for behavior in my past that falls far short of the standard you set for me when you elected me to be your governor. I believe you deserve to hear directly from me. pic.twitter.com/1rSw1oxfrX — Ralph Northam (@GovernorVA) February 2, 2019

If Northam does resign, Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, a fellow Democrat, would take over. Fairfax is only the second African-American to win statewide office in Virginia.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.comFollow him on Twitter @johnsb01

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