Chris Murphy
Born 1973 · Age 53
American lawyer, author, and Democratic politician from Connecticut; U.S. Representative (2007–2013) and U.S. Senator (2013–present). Advocate for gun safety, mental health reform, and progressive foreign policy.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in White Plains, New York
Christopher Scott Murphy born to Catherine A. (Lewczyk) and Scott L. Murphy.
Graduated Williams College (B.A.)
Received B.A. (Williams College); spent junior year abroad at Exeter College, Oxford through Williams-Exeter Programme.
Campaign manager for Charlotte Koskoff
Served as campaign manager for Charlotte Koskoff's U.S. House campaign against Nancy Johnson (unsuccessful).
Elected to Southington planning & zoning commission
First elected office: won seat on the planning and zoning commission in Southington, Connecticut.
Staffer for Connecticut Senate Majority Leader George Jepsen
Worked for State Senate Majority Leader George Jepsen (1997–1998).
Elected to Connecticut House of Representatives
Defeated 14-year incumbent Angelo Fusco for the 81st district seat (won 55%–45%).
Served on Judiciary Committee (state level)
During his CT House tenure he served on the Judiciary Committee and supported progressive measures.
Took office, Connecticut House of Representatives
Assumed office as state representative for CT House (81st district).
Criticized Nancy Johnson's impeachment vote
Publicly criticized U.S. Rep. Nancy Johnson for voting to impeach President Clinton.
Re-elected to Connecticut House (2nd term)
Won re-election defeating Barbara Morelli (68%–32%).
Co-sponsored bill to eliminate child poverty
Active policy work in state legislature: co-sponsor of child poverty elimination legislation.
Earned J.D., University of Connecticut School of Law
Completed law degree (met future wife Catherine Holahan while at UConn Law).
Elected to Connecticut State Senate
Ran for and won open 16th district seat, defeating Republican Ann Dandrow (53%–47%).
Joined Clean Car Alliance
Supported California-like environmental auto emissions standards as a state senator.
Took office, Connecticut State Senate
Assumed state senate seat representing 16th district.
Re-elected to Connecticut State Senate
Won second term defeating Republican Christopher O'Brien (60%–37%).
Supported statewide restaurant and bar smoking ban
Backed legislation to ban smoking in all restaurants and bars in Connecticut.
Authored Office of Child Protection & stem-cell legislation
Wrote legislation creating Office of Child Protection and Public Act 05–149 permitting stem-cell research while prohibiting cloning (CT became 3rd state to permit taxpayer-subsidized stem-cell research).
Co-sponsored civil union bill
Among early co-sponsors of 2005 civil union bill in CT General Assembly supporting LGBT rights.
Moved to Cheshire and ran for U.S. House
Relocated to challenge 12-term incumbent Rep. Nancy Johnson for Connecticut's 5th congressional district.
Elected to U.S. House of Representatives
Defeated Nancy Johnson in November general election for CT-5 (received 122,980 votes, 56.46%).
Took office, U.S. House of Representatives
Began first term in U.S. House representing Connecticut's 5th district.
Organized freshmen House members on ethics reform
Led group supporting creation of an independent, non-partisan ethics panel for the House.
Married Catherine (Cathy) Holahan
Married in August 2007; the couple later had two sons.
Office of Congressional Ethics established (legislative contribution)
Credited with helping shape the independent Office of Congressional Ethics, passed by House in March 2008.
Re-elected to U.S. House (2nd term)
Won re-election in 2008 with 178,377 votes (59.65%).
Authored Frank Melville Supportive Housing Investment Act (House passage)
Authored legislation to modernize Section 811 supportive housing program; House passed measures in 2008; ultimately signed into law in 2010.
Government Funding Transparency Act passed
Introduced and successfully passed law requiring private companies doing majority business with federal government to disclose top executive salaries.
Helped draft HR 3200 (House health-care reform bill)
Played a role in drafting major House health-care reform legislation and defended it in constituent town halls.
Introduced 'Billy's Law' for missing-persons databases
Proposed reforms to improve coordination of missing-persons database searches; named for Billy Smolinski Jr.
Frank Melville Act signed into law (as part of 2010 enactments)
Legislation modernizing Section 811 supportive housing grants signed into law (bill Chris Murphy had authored in the House earlier).
Re-elected to U.S. House (3rd term)
Won 2010 election with 122,879 votes (54.06%).
Announced run for U.S. Senate
Declared candidacy for Senate seat being vacated by Joe Lieberman.
Super PAC organized for his Senate campaign (mid-July)
Group forming a Super PAC hoped to raise $1 million to support his campaign preparation/defense.
Won Democratic primary for U.S. Senate
Defeated former CT Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz in Democratic primary (primary vote totals: Murphy 89,283 (67.43%), Bysiewicz 43,135 (32.57%)).
Elected U.S. Senator from Connecticut
Defeated Republican Linda McMahon in the general election (828,761 votes, 54.82%); race was among the most expensive in CT history.
Committee assignments in Senate (beginning of term)
Member of Senate Appropriations, Foreign Relations, HELP committees; earlier served on the Joint Economic Committee (2013–2015).
Took office as U.S. Senator
Assumed office as junior U.S. Senator from Connecticut (succeeded Joe Lieberman).
Received honorary Doctor of Humane Letters (University of New Haven)
Awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree.
Co-authored 'Principles for a Progressive Foreign Policy' (Foreign Affairs)
Published a foreign-policy framework in Foreign Affairs advocating a progressive approach to U.S. foreign policy.
Introduced Mental Health Reform Act (bipartisan)
Co-introduced with Sen. Bill Cassidy to overhaul mental health system, expand workforce and integrate care models.
Staged lengthy gun-control filibuster
Led a Senate floor filibuster on June 15–16, 2016 in the wake of the Orlando nightclub shooting; placed among the top 10 longest filibusters.
Mental Health Reform Act advanced & 21st Century Cures
Mental Health Reform Act passed HELP Committee (March 16, 2016) and was included in 21st Century Cures Act (Senate passage Dec 7, 2016); signed into law Dec 13, 2016 with $1B funding for opioid crisis and NIH initiatives.
Considered for Vice Presidential shortlist
Named as one of several potential running mates for Hillary Clinton during the 2016 presidential campaign.
Walked across Connecticut (126 miles) for constituent listening tour
Walked 126 miles across CT holding daily town halls and listening to constituents.
Authored Countering Foreign Propaganda & Disinformation Act
Co-authored bipartisan bill with Sen. Rob Portman to create mechanisms to counter foreign disinformation; authorized $160M over two years as part of NDAA measures approved Nov 30, 2016.
Walked across Connecticut (106 miles) again
Repeated cross-state listening walk covering 106 miles and holding multiple town halls.
Voted for Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA)
Supported bipartisan sanctions against Russia, Iran and North Korea (July 2017).
Signed letter urging FLRA to keep Boston regional office open
One of 12 senators who in May 2018 urged Federal Labor Relations Authority leadership to retain its Boston office.
Re-elected to U.S. Senate (2nd term)
Won 2018 U.S. Senate election with 825,579 votes (59.53%).
Published essays critiquing neoliberalism
Began public critiques of neoliberalism and advocated for left-wing populism and a political realignment of the Democratic Party.
Published 'How to Make a Progressive Foreign Policy Actually Work' (The Atlantic)
Authored a major foreign-policy article outlining progressive foreign-policy principles.
Published book 'The Violence Inside Us'
Released a book on gun violence and the challenges of enacting gun-control policy in the U.S.
Secret meeting with Iranian FM Javad Zarif (Munich)
Met with Iran's foreign minister on sidelines of Munich Security Conference to discuss detainees and regional issues; later wrote about it on Medium.
Called for removal of President Donald Trump after Jan 6 attack
In wake of U.S. Capitol storming, Murphy called for Trump's removal and led investigations into security breaches.
Lead negotiator for Bipartisan Safer Communities Act
Emerges as lead Democratic negotiator after Robb Elementary School shooting; bill became first major gun-safety legislation in decades (2022).
Publicly reacted to Roe v. Wade overturn
Called the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade a 'disaster' and criticized justices supporting the decision.
Introduced National Strategy for Social Connection Act
Legislation to establish a White House Office of Social Connection Policy and fund CDC research on loneliness (July 2023).
Published multiple opinion pieces on loneliness and neoliberalism
Wrote on loneliness and critiqued neoliberalism in outlets including The Atlantic, The New Republic and The New York Times (2022–2023 period).
Joined churches in Hartford and Washington
Reported to have joined churches in Hartford and Washington by 2023 after earlier identifying as not a regular churchgoer.
Selected unanimously as 2024 Democratic nominee
Unanimously selected by CT Democrats as the party's nominee for his 2024 Senate re-election.
Announced roundtables with Gov. Spencer Cox on social connection (partnership)
In April 2024 partnered with Republican Utah Gov. Spencer Cox for bipartisan roundtables on restoring 'common good' and social connection.
Re-elected to U.S. Senate (3rd term)
Won the 2024 general election for U.S. Senate (defeated Republican Matthew Corey and others).
Announced separation from spouse
His office confirmed he and his wife of 17 years were separating (married August 2007).
Introduced Kids Off Social Media Act (KOSMA)
Co-introduced bipartisan legislation to set minimum age of 13 for social media and limit algorithmic targeting of under-17s (Jan 2025).
Voted on and commented about major foreign policy and munitions issues
Participated in high-profile votes and commentary on U.S.-Israel sales ($8.8B munitions package vote) and Russia/White House commentary (2024–2025).
Continued media presence and speculation about 2028 presidential prospects
Media outlets listed him among possible presidential candidates for 2028; increased social media following and engagement following high-profile criticism of Donald Trump.
Assumed office as Deputy Secretary of the Senate Democratic Caucus
Became Deputy Secretary of the Senate Democratic Caucus, serving with Brian Schatz under Leader Chuck Schumer.
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