Stephanie Murphy

Stephanie Murphy (born Đặng Thị Ngọc Dung; September 16, 1978) is an American politician from the state of Florida. She is a member of the Democratic Party and a member of the United States House of Representatives for Florida's 7th congressional district, having defeated incumbent John Mica in 2016. The district includes much of downtown and northern Orlando, as well as all of Winter Park, Maitland, Sanford and Altamonte Springs.

This article is about the business consultant and politician. For the veterinary-scientist, see Stephanie J. Murphy.

Stephanie Murphy
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Florida's 7th district
Assumed office
January 3, 2017
Preceded byJohn Mica
Personal details
Born
Đặng Thị Ngọc Dung

(1978-09-16) September 16, 1978
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Sean Murphy
Children2
EducationCollege of William & Mary (BA)
Georgetown University (MS)
WebsiteHouse website

Murphy is the first Vietnamese-American woman and the second Vietnamese-American overall (after Republican Joseph Cao of Louisiana) to be elected to Congress.[1]

Early life and education

Stephanie Murphy was born Đặng Thị Ngọc Dung (Đặng being her surname) on September 16, 1978, in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly known as Saigon), Vietnam.[2] Her family fled Communist-controlled Vietnam in 1979 when she was six months old.[3] Their boat ran out of fuel and they were rescued by the United States Navy while at sea.[4][5] They settled in Northern Virginia, where she grew up.[6]

With the help of Pell Grants and student loans, Murphy attended the College of William & Mary, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics. She then went to Georgetown University, from which she received a Master of Science degree in foreign service.[5][7]

Pre-congressional career

After the September 11 attacks, Murphy went to work for the United States Department of Defense as a national security specialist.[5][8] She worked as an executive on investment efforts and government affairs initiatives at Sungate Capital in Winter Park, Florida, and as a business professor at Rollins College.[7]

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections
2016

Murphy declared her candidacy for the United States House of Representatives for Florida's 7th congressional district in the 2016 elections. She ran against 12-term incumbent Republican John Mica in the general election on November 8, 2016.[6] She was endorsed by President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, and former congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.[5][9][10] Murphy defeated Mica, receiving 51% of the vote.[11] Murphy is the second Vietnamese-American, after Joseph Cao, to be elected to the United States Congress, and the first Vietnamese-American woman to do so.[5]

Murphy ran in a district that was somewhat bluer than its predecessor after a court-ordered mid-decade redistricting. The old 7th had been a marginal district, even though Mica had won it twice without serious difficulty (he had previously represented a more Republican St. Augustine/Daytona Beach/Orlando district from 1993 to 2013). Mitt Romney narrowly won it over Barack Obama in 2012, with 51 percent of the vote.[12] In contrast, had the redrawn 7th existed in 2012, Obama would have won it with 49.4 percent.[13]

After meeting with President Trump in September 2017, Murphy said that she and fellow Democrats could work with him.[14]

2018

Murphy, according to political commentators, was faced with the challenge of representing an evenly divided district. "Of the three freshman Democrats from Central Florida, which include U.S. Reps. Val Demings, D-Orlando, and Darren Soto, D-Kissimmee, Murphy faces the toughest race for re-election," stated the Orlando Sentinel on January 2, 2018. "I think she has one of the toughest districts in the country," said Susan MacManus, a political science professor at the University of South Florida. "It's very difficult to please everybody in a swing district, and that's why it's so challenging."[14]

She was re-elected with 57.6% of the vote, defeating Republican Mike Miller.

Tenure

Murphy was sworn into office on January 3, 2017. She has urged the Federal Bureau of Investigation to investigate various bomb threats against Jewish facilities.[15] She joined the Blue Dog Coalition in the 115th U.S. Congress,[16] and was named one of three co-chairs, handling administration, in December 2018 for the 116th U.S. Congress.[17]

With the Democrats winning a majority in the House in 2018, Murphy was named to the powerful Ways and Means Committee.[18] She is only the 20th woman ever to serve on that committee. As it is one of the "exclusive committees" of the House, she had to give up her previous seats on the Armed Services and Small Business committees.

Committee assignments

Caucus memberships

Political positions

Gun policy

Murphy decided to run for office when incumbent Republican John Mica accepted a campaign contribution from the NRA two days after the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida. (The 7th congressional district includes much of Orlando) She won office with the support of gun-control groups, such as Americans for Responsible Solutions and the Pride Fund to End Gun Violence, which was formed after the Pulse shooting. Murphy supports universal background checks, as well as prohibiting those on the No Fly List from purchasing firearms.[25] Murphy has stated, "We should protect the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding gun owners, but we should also protect our communities by passing commonsense gun laws."[26]

In 2017, Murphy introduced the "Gun Violence Research Act" into the United States House of Representatives, which was designed to repeal the 1996 federal ban on the use of federal funds to fund gun-violence research. Murphy stated that the current ban on gun-violence research was "un-American to its core."[27] As of February 2018, the Act had not been voted on. Following the 2018 Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida, several Republican Congress members indicated that they were in favor of the Gun Violence Research Act. In March 2018, Murphy said that gun control might be approaching "a tipping point" because the present younger generation "had to grow up where they don't know anything but school mass shootings. They're sick and tired of it, and they're activating."[28]

Immigration

Murphy co-sponsored the DREAM Act and voted several times to force a House vote on it.[14] She was, however, one of only 24 House Democrats who voted for Kate's Law,[29] under which "an alien who has been excluded, deported, removed, or denied admission, or who has departed the United States while under an outstanding order of exclusion, deportation, or removal, and who subsequently crosses or attempts to cross the border into the United States, shall be fined, imprisoned not more than two years, or both."[30] To demonstrate her support for immigration reform, she posted online a picture of herself wearing an "I Am An Immigrant" t-shirt along with the message, "#IAmAnImmigrant and proud of it. Our nation's diversity is its strength. Opportunity and freedom keep the American dream alive."[31]

Murphy opposed President Trump's executive order to temporarily ban entry into the United States by citizens of six Muslim-majority countries. "I strongly oppose the President's executive orders on refugees, which violate fundamental American values and undermine our national security," she said. "We must work in a bipartisan manner to strengthen our refugee policy in a way that keeps us secure AND upholds our values."[32]

Small-business loans

Murphy introduced a bill to make it easier for small business owners to obtain low-interest loans. The bill was passed by the House. She also co-sponsored a law, passed and signed by President Trump, that ensures that small businesses will receive a share of federal government contracts.[14]

War Powers

Murphy was one of 8 Democrats to oppose a House resolution limiting President Trump's military actions against Iran without congressional approval.[33][34][35]

Impeachment of Donald Trump

On December 18, 2019, Murphy voted for both articles of impeachment against President Donald J. Trump. [36]

Personal life

Murphy and her husband, Sean, have two children.[37] She is a Protestant Christian.[38]

See also

References
  1. Weik, Taylor. "Stephanie Murphy Went from Vietnam War Refugee to Member of Congress". NBC News. Retrieved May 26, 2018.
  2. "Candidate Conversation – Stephanie Murphy (D) – News & Analysis – The Rothenberg & Gonzales Political Report". Retrieved November 9, 2016.
  3. Dunkelberger, Lloyd (October 24, 2016). "John Mica faces major challenge in redrawn district from Stephanie Murphy". Orlando Weekly. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
  4. Bade, Rachael (November 1, 2016). "Top GOP congressman laughs his way to possible defeat". Politico. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
  5. Hassan, Mohamed (November 8, 2016). "5 Things to Know About Stephanie Murphy, First Vietnamese-American Woman Elected to Congress". NBC News. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
  6. "Democrats find a challenger against Mica". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
  7. "Stephanie Murphy files to run against John Mica in CD 7 – Florida Politics". Florida Politics. June 23, 2016. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
  8. Hackman, Michelle (October 23, 2016). "In Diversifying Florida District, a Challenge for the GOP". Retrieved November 9, 2016 – via Wall Street Journal.
  9. Sentinel, Orlando. "Val Demings, Stephanie Murphy endorsed by Gabby Giffords". Retrieved November 9, 2016.
  10. "Barack Obama endorses Val Demings, Stephanie Murphy – Florida Politics". October 24, 2016. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
  11. Comas, Martin E. (November 8, 2016). "Political newcomer Murphy pulls stunner, unseats Mica; Demings defeats Lowe". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
  12. Presidential results by congressional district for districts used in 2012 and 2014, courtesy Daily Kos
  13. Presidential results by congressional district for districts used in 2016, courtesy Daily Kos
  14. Lemongello, Steven. "Stephanie Murphy attempts bipartisan balancing act in first year". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
  15. Derby, Kevin (February 27, 2017). "Stephanie Murphy Leads Congressional Push for Feds to Investigate Threats to Jewish Centers". Sunshine State News, Florida Political News. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
  16. Powers, Scott (December 21, 2016). "Stephanie Murphy Joining Blue Dogs, New Democrats". Florida Politics. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  17. https://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/blue-dog-coalition-elects-3-new-co-chairs-lead-next-congress
  18. Naomi Jagoda (January 9, 2019). "Ten Dem lawmakers added to House Ways and Means Committee". The Hill.
  19. http://www.dems.gov/coalitions/national-security-task-force/
  20. https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/politics/political-pulse/os-ne-murphy-soto-pelosi-problem-solvers-20181126-story.html
  21. "Members". Citizen's Climate Lobby. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
  22. "Members". LGBT Equality Caucus. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
  23. "Members". Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. Retrieved May 17, 2018.
  24. Derby, Kevin. "Stephanie Murphy to Lead 50 House Democrats in Future Forum." Sunshine State News, December 6, 2018, sunshinestatenews.com/story/stephanie-murphy-lead-50-house-democrats-future-forum. Accessed December 8, 2017.
  25. Garcia, Patricia (June 12, 2017). "Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy Ran for Office After the Pulse Shooting: Now She's Taking on the NRA and Steve Bannon". Vogue. Condé Nast. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
  26. "U.S. House District 7 - Stephanie Murphy". Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. September 26, 2018. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
  27. Powers, Scott (March 9, 2017). "Stephanie Murphy bill to repeal ban on gun violence research". Florida Politics. Peter Schorsch. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
  28. Gancarski, AG. "Stephanie Murphy anticipates 'tipping point' in gun debate". Orlando Rising. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
  29. Wolf, Colin. "Stephanie Murphy and Val Demings just voted for an incredibly terrible anti-immigration bill". Orlando Weekly. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
  30. "H.R.3004 - Kate's Law". congress.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
  31. Powers, Scott. "Stephanie Murphy lets immigration reform shirt do the talking". Florida Politics. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
  32. Nielsen, Allison. "Florida Congressional Freshmen React to Trump's Refugee Ban". Sunshine State News. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
  33. Caplan, Craig (January 9, 2020). "2nd term Florida Democratic Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy on voting No on Iran war powers resolution: "I am not prepared to unduly limit our nation's ability to respond to different contingencies that may arise."https://twitter.com/RepStephMurphy/status/1215411011886505984 …". @CraigCaplan. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  34. Murphy, Rep Stephanie (January 9, 2020). "I voted against #WarPowersResolution b/c I'm not prepared to unduly limit our nation's ability to respond to new & evolving threats. The War Powers Act of 1973 already restricts POTUS's ability to wage war. Our goals must be peace & the security of all Americans. Full Statementpic.twitter.com/upBQb2KlzP". @RepStephMurphy. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  35. "Murphy on War Powers Resolution". U.S. Representative Stephanie Murphy. January 9, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  36. https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-impeachment-vote-results-house-2019-12
  37. "EMILY's List Endorses Stephanie Murphy in Florida's 7th Congressional District". July 25, 2016. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
  38. Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. "Religious affiliation of members of 116th Congress" (PDF). pewforum.org. p. 3. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
John Mica		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Florida's 7th congressional district
2017–present		 Incumbent
Party political offices
Preceded by
Jim Costa		 Chair of the Blue Dog Coalition for Administration
2019–present
Served alongside: Lou Correa (Communications), Tom O'Halleran (Policy)		 Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by
Paul Mitchell		 United States Representatives by seniority
319th		 Succeeded by
Tom O'Halleran
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