March 20, 2019 - 9:00am
U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy, D-Fla., the chairwoman of the Blue Dog Coalition, announced on Tuesday that she plans to run for a third term in 2020.
Murphy released a web video in which she announced she was running again.
“Already in this Democratic Congress, we’ve passed historic gun safety legislation and voted to get dark money out of politics,” Murphy said in the video. “But, we must do more, and I want to keep fighting for you and central Florida. That’s why I’m proud to announce I am running for re-election so that together we can keep moving this country forward.
“I’m running for three reasons: jobs, security, and opportunity,” Murphy added. “We need more and higher-paying jobs with good benefits. We need to secure this nation and make our communities safer, especially from gun violence. And, we need to ensure every child has an equal opportunity to succeed in the greatest nation on earth. I want my kids and your kids to reach for the stars and achieve their dreams.”
During her first term in Congress, thanks in part to introducing a balanced budget amendment, Murphy led the Blue Dog Coalition’s Fiscal Responsibility Task Force. She was named to the powerful U.S. House Ways and Means Committee earlier this year.
After serving in the Defense Department under President George W. Bush, Murphy burst on the political scene in 2016 when she upset U.S. Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., who had served in Congress for 24 years. Murphy was a top target for Republicans in the 2018 election cycle but she routed state Rep. Mike Miller, R-Orlando, and took 58 percent of the vote.
Despite Murphy’s big win last year, the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) is already taking aim at her for 2020. Last week, the NRCC ran a digital ad against Murphy and more than 50 other Democrats across the nation, trying to smoke them out on where they stand on impeaching President Donald Trump. The NRCC also jabbed Murphy last week for endorsing former U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke, D-Tex., for president in 2020.
The Republican National Committee (RNC) weighed in on Tuesday after Murphy announced for a third term.
“After several years as an irrelevant back bencher, it seems that Stephanie Murphy’s moderate act is up. From voting against tax cuts to supporting extreme abortion legislation, and now endorsing left-wing extremist, Beto O’Rourke, it is clear that Floridians will ensure that Murphy is not back in D.C. come January 2021,” said RNC Spokesperson Joe Jackson.
Democrat Hillary Clinton took 51 percent in Murphy’s Central Florida district during the 2016 presidential race while Trump pulled 44 percent.
