Introduction
Matthew Scott Murphy (born January 26, 1970) is an entrepreneur and a former U.S. Representative for New York's 20th congressional district, having served a portion of one term from April 2009 until January 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He was defeated in his attempt to attain election to a full term on November 2, 2010. Prior to re-districting after the 2010 census, the 20th district centered on much of the eastern portion of New York's Capital District.
Early life, education and career
The son of a teacher and mail carrier, Murphy graduated from the David H. Hickman High School in Columbia, Missouri, in 1988, He later graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University.
Murphy worked for Bankers Trust for two and a half years in the early 1990s before becoming an entrepreneur. In 1994, he co-founded an interactive media company, Small World Software. In 1998 the company, which had grown to 25 employees, was purchased by the internet-consulting company iXL. He then served as one of the heads of the purchased entity, rebranded "iXL New York". iXL later went bankrupt in 2002 during the end of the dot-com bubble. In 2001 Murphy joined Advantage Capital Partners, a venture capital partnership.
He currently serves as President of the Board of Directors of Upstate Venture Association of New York, Inc. He worked as an aide, Deputy Chief of Staff, and fundraiser for former Governors of Missouri Mel Carnahan and Roger B. Wilson.
U.S. House of Representatives
Major votes
On November 7, 2009, Murphy voted against the Affordable Care Act. Murphy opposed the Stupak Amendment which proposed to restrict federal funding and subsidies for plans that cover elective abortion.
In March 2010, Murphy supported the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
Committee assignments
Rep. Murphy served on the same two committees as his predecessor, now-Senator Kirsten Gillibrand:
- Committee on Agriculture
- Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy, and Research
- Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture
- Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry
- Committee on Armed Services
- Subcommittee on Terrorism and Unconventional Threats
- Subcommittee on Strategic Forces
- Hossain, Farhana; Tse, Archie (2009-11-08). "House Democrats Who Voted Against the Health Care Bill". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-05-23.
- "House Vote 884 - Restricts Federal Funding for Abortion". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-05-23.
- "FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 165" (XML). Clerk.house.gov. Retrieved 2016-09-16.
Political campaigns
2009 special election
On January 22, 2009, Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand, a Democrat representing New York's 20th congressional district, was appointed by Governor David Paterson to fill the United States Senate seat vacated by Hillary Clinton, who assumed the office of United States Secretary of State in the Obama administration.
On February 1, 2009, Murphy was chosen by a unanimous vote of ten Democratic county chairs to be their party's nominee for 2009 special election to fill Gillibrand's seat in the House.
Murphy ran against Republican nominee Jim Tedisco from Schenectady, who, until April 2009, was the Minority Leader of the New York State Assembly. Murphy was endorsed by President Barack Obama and Senator Gillibrand.
The initial count from the election had Murphy leading by approximately 60 votes out of more than 150,000 cast. However, by April 24, after re-tallies and absentee ballot counting, Murphy was ahead by 399 votes, and Tedisco conceded the election. Murphy was sworn in on April 29.
2010
In 2010, Murphy ran for a full two-year term representing the 20th district. He lost the election to the Republican nominee, Chris Gibson.
2014
Murphy reportedly considered a campaign to return to Congress from the open New York's 21st congressional district, where Murphy now lives, which was being vacated by Democrat Bill Owens at the end of his term.
Personal life
Murphy is married to Jennifer Hogan, a native of Washington County. They have three children.