What Makes Chris an Extraordinary, Visionary Leader?

Chris Murphy could be called the Connecticut Senate’s Health Leader with his array of landmark bills advancing public health. His efforts have included last year’s historic stem cell research funding law and the 2003 workplace smoking ban. Murphy is running for the U.S. Congress to advance a single-payer universal healthcare system for the nation.

Murphy also has been a rock-solid advocate for the environment. Tying environmental health to the national economy, Murphy also is running to cut energy consumption while investing in renewable energy sources.

Murphy took a courageous stand in 2003 when he chose to be one of the first ten co-sponsors of Connecticut’s civil union law. The seat State Senate seat that Murphy won in 2002 had been in Republican hands for almost two decades. Knowing this, Murphy still made himself a co-sponsor of the legislation, and was publicly labeled by the Catholic church as a member of the “Terrible Ten.” A year later, the bill passed, and Connecticut became the only state in the country to legalize civil unions without a court order.

As a US Representative, Murphy will push for publicly financed elections to “reopen the doorways of government to regular people with real concerns.”

Background

Upon his arrival to the Senate at age 29, Murphy was appointed chair of the legislature’s Public health Committee. His work over the past three years as the Senate’s leader on health care has been highlighted by his authorship of an impressive array of landmark bills advancing public health, including last year’s historic stem cell research funding law and 2003’s workplace smoking ban. In addition, he chairs the State task force looking into the re-importation of prescription drugs from Canada as a way of providing lower cost medications to Connecticut residents.

Senator Murphy is also acknowledged as a leader on environmental protection issues and juvenile justice reform. In 2005, he authored and passed legislation establishing the new Office of Child Protection to better coordinate advocacy for abused and neglected children.

Prior to being elected to the Senate, Murphy served two terms in the House of Representatives, representing the 81st House District. In the House, Murphy authored legislation protecting neighborhoods from power plant development and led the fight to expand the state’s prescription drug assistance program.

Murphy began his political career as the campaign manager for Charlotte Koskoff’s near upset of Nancy Johnson in 1996. From 1997 – 1998 he worked for Senate Majority Leader George C. Jepsen. Senator Murphy, a graduate of Williams College and the University of Connecticut School of Law, is currently employed as an attorney with the firm of Ruben, Johnson, and Morgan in Hartford. He resides in Cheshire.

Race Facts

Race Type: Democratic Challenge
Primary Opponent: None
Primary Date: August 8, 2006
General Opponent: Rep. Nancy Johnson (incumbent)
General Election Date: November 7, 2006
General Election Results: Won, 56 – 44 percent