Rep. Chris Murphy Announces Connecticut Senate Candidacy

UPDATE: Rep. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) formally announced on Thursday morning that he will be running for the United States Senate seat being vacated by Senator Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.)

In an exclusive statement to The Huffington Post, the Connecticut Democrat explained that his decision came after consultation with his family, friends and colleagues.

"I only take this step because I believe I can be an even stronger voice for change in the United States Senate," Murphy said. "I'm thankful for all the encouragement I have received to take this step, from family, friends, and people across the state. What I've heard is that people feel that the Senate simply doesn't work anymore - it's become an unjustifiable barrier to positive change, and Connecticut needs a fresh, progressive voice there that will push for both policy and institutional reform. "

Murphy will be making an official announcement later on Thursday morning, along with the release of his first campaign video on the new campaign website: www.chrismurphy.com. A celebratory event is planned later in the day in Cheshire, Connecticut.

Below is Murphy's announcement video:

--

January 19:

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) will announce on Thursday that he plans to run for the Senate seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn), several Democratic sources tell The Huffington Post.

The announcement will make Murphy the second lawmaker to enter the Democratic primary. Earlier in the week, Susan Bysiewicz, a thrice-elected former secretary of state, said that she intended to run for Lieberman's seat as well.

News of Murphy's impending entrance into the race was first reported by Hartford Courant columnist and political blogger Kevin Rennie. A Democratic source said the congressman alerted fellow lawmakers of his decision on Wednesday after Lieberman announced he would not be seeking a fifth term in office.

A Murphy spokesman declined comment.

As The Huffington Post reported on Wednesday, Connecticut Democrats have begun bracing themselves for an active and crowded primary process. In addition to Bysiewicz and Murphy, Rep. Joe Courtney (D-Conn.) is widely expected to announce a run for office.

"I'm looking at it," Courtney told The Huffington Post earlier in the day. "When I ran for the House I started in February of '05. So time is the enemy. You have to raise all kind of money. When you look at the Udalls [Senators Tom and Mark] they jumped out very early in their races. [Joe] Sestak, [Paul] Hodes did the same thing. So it is a pretty tight timeframe."

Comments

[Dunkleberger Karl]

10:48 AM on 01/21/2011

Great Add!  every dem should watch and learn ! this is A  Great Hello add!
This add Motivates and Educates! ANd there is nothing to attack U on!

[Rixar13]

09:26 AM on 01/21/2011

"What I've heard is that people feel that the Senate simply doesn't work anymore - it's become an unjustifiable barrier to positive change,"

I applaud his decision and a welcome change from retiring Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn)...

[JohnCheney88]

08:00 AM on 01/21/2011

I wish him all the luck in the world. It's definately time for Joe to GO!

[Carolyn Askew]

10:38 PM on 01/20/2011

I never heard of Chris Murphy. He does not represent my district. He does seem to have positive comments from those in his district. However I am so happy that Joe Lieberman is not running any longer and has to decided to retire from lying to the people! Spiting out scriptures and lying at the same time. He will never admit that he is wrong. He just wanted to go to war. A very sad man. A very sad man. He would never have been President. Sad bitter little man.

[Dane Ferrell]

09:57 PM on 01/20/2011

I would be happy to contribute to his campaign fund.

[EnglishHorn73]

07:42 PM on 01/20/2011

About a week before the Health Care vote, I called Congressman Murphy's office in Washngton to voice my opinion on the bill and urge him to vote for it (Chris Murphy is my Representative). A male voice answered the phone. I introduce myself and asked whom am I speaking to, expecting to hear that this is Congressman's Office Manager, or Administrative Assistant, or whatever. "This is Congressman Murphy" was the response. So, I had a good 5 minute chat with the Congressman. I was very impressed that 1 week before the crucial, highly charged vote the Congressman was answering the phones himself, not hiding, and ready to face his constituents (and let's face it, most people who are calling are the angry ones.
Chris Murphy has been my Representative for the past 4+ years, and I have nothing but the good things to say about him.

[sassafra]

08:42 PM on 01/20/2011

same here. murphy is my rep. also, and i agree with your assessment. i'd hate to lose him but he'll make a fine senator.

[Rasheed Kalifani Knowles]

06:25 PM on 01/20/2011

Hope he wins.

Doesn't seem to offer anything new from appearances though.

To be frank.....is it wrong of me to expect more diversity in the American senate?

Can we get more pepper in the potato soup, please?

[1Troubles]

02:48 PM on 01/20/2011

Whomever takes Joe's seat will need a scrub bucket first!

[Arizona Annie]

02:51 PM on 01/20/2011

Isn't that the truth!

[drkazmd65]

11:07 AM on 01/21/2011

And some disinfectant would be a good idea. Perhaps some nice popurii - to help get rid of some of the residual stink?

[CarryOn]

02:38 PM on 01/20/2011

He is a good guy. Accessible, open, and in touch.Was happy when he beat Nancy Johnson as our rep.

[Wisco-libertarian]

02:15 PM on 01/20/2011

Lieberman a political opportunist?

This is opportunism at its heart! Democrats, all they ever want is more power. And this guy not waiting to announce his bid shows how power hungry the Democrats really are. They can't stand that Lieberman stuck to principles and gave his middle finger to their party after they deserted him.

[Arizona Annie]

02:43 PM on 01/20/2011

We can't stand that Lieberman turned his back on America to get even with Democrats. To us he cares more about vindictiveness and power than his country. The opposite of Democrats. Good riddance to him.

[TheGuv]

03:37 PM on 01/20/2011

I've known the various Joe Liebermans for over forty years. Just what "principles" are you referring to? He was a solid moderate Democrat for many years, and had the honor of being selected to run as Vice President by the Democratic Party. His betrayal of principles caused him to lose a primary here in CT, and he became more bitter than usual. So, he became an "Independent," and won the election, as the Republicans voted 75% for him. His bitterness caused him to turn on the Party that had given him support for over thirty five years, and endorse John McCain, and he actually campaigned for McCain. That made good press for the Republicans, the Party Lieberman had run against his whole political career. His decision not to run again was based on the lowest approval ratings ever in CT political history. We already produced one Benedict Arnold, and we don't need another one in the Senate. A person of principle stays with his Party (why else join it?), and if he or she disagrees with a policy, try to change it within the Party. Power hungry? When Bush I and II were in office, there was the largest transfer of wealth in our modern history...now 20% of our population controls 85% of our wealth. The two Georges, I & II, decimated the middle class which had expanded under programs passed by the Democrats. Your logic and knowledge of history are twisted.

[Wisco-libertarian]

10:46 PM on 01/20/2011

Liberals' obsession with Bush is like getting dumped as a teenager. You just can't get over it, can you?

Look, right whatever story you want about Lieberman, the guy wasn't beholden to a party. And that's what I like.

And maybe he did screw over Democrats. But their policy goals were bad policy overall, so what he did was good for the country. For example, now that we see all the awful spending with Obamacare, we see that Lieberman is right and Democrats are wrong. He was right to turn his back on the party because the party's vision of America is bad for the country.

[trojoe]

02:05 PM on 01/20/2011

I don't know much about his policies... But that could possibly be the best campaign ad I've seen in ages.

[Tails]

01:31 PM on 01/20/2011

This is my inner sociopath talking, but can we PLEASE move Angle and O'Donnell to CT?

[libertyanne]

02:17 PM on 01/20/2011

Are you sure it's Inner?

[Tails]

02:45 PM on 01/20/2011

Yes. If it was outer, I'd be using my TrustFund to build elaborate Saw-like traps for the more vocal GOBP members.

[TheGuv]

03:42 PM on 01/20/2011

No thanks...we don't want them. I understand they're moving to Alaska, so they can hunt wild animals using assault rifles from a helicopter. We just build helicopters.

[bigmadd]

01:16 PM on 01/20/2011

the two worries I have is will Conn.elect him and will they also replace him with another Dem in the House? After all the elected Joe

[StarDagger]

01:15 PM on 01/20/2011

I look forward to the day that serious candidates could be bearded, young, single and definitely not normal. While I am sure he will be better than SloMo Joe, I am tired of seeing mormon-like family scenes in these campaign ads.

[lightist]

01:37 PM on 01/20/2011

Me, too. You're funny with the whole mormon family analogy. It kinda makes me sick to my stomach. Smells like family fascism. If anything, we gotta seriously ratchet down the family making rhetoric unless we enjoy eating out the guts of planet earth.

[StarDagger]

02:09 PM on 01/20/2011

Having kids is bad for the environment, and take a HUGE amount of time away form intelligent people.
The best rep would be one who had an iq of 160, and is OCD about the welfare of the people. I really don't want someone who thinks that getting someone else pregnant is some sort of badge of honor. Any guy and 15 minutes can do that.
Can you honorably administer the area you are elected to? Do you have the intellectual, political and social skills to represent (or administer) your area? Are you free of the programming that shackles most americans (like American Exceptionalist)?

The ideal Rep/Senator/Governor/President is far from what we see on TV. That said, Obama is a huge step in the right direction, but just imagine if he didn't have to spend time (on his admittedly wonderful) family.

Enjoy the show,
S*D

[trojoe]

02:02 PM on 01/20/2011

Omg, me too buddy.

[indecisiveh]

01:15 PM on 01/20/2011

This day is long over due. Lieberman is nothing more than blockade most of the time and a war salesman on top of it.

[mjc]

07:59 PM on 01/21/2011

I've always wondered where that war mongering came from. Doesn't make him very attractive.