The Hill’s 2012 New Members Guide

Connecticut

Sen.-elect Chris Murphy (D-Conn.)

DATE OF BIRTH: Aug. 3, 1974

BIRTHPLACE: White Plains, N.Y.

RESIDENCE: Cheshire, Conn.

OCCUPATION: Lawyer

EDUCATION: B.A., Williams College; J.D., University of Connecticut School of Law

PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: House of Representatives, 2007-2012;  Connecticut State Senator, 2003-2007; State Representative, 1999-2003

FAMILY: Wife, Catherine; two children

Winning the seat of retiring Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) was supposed to be a cakewalk for Chris Murphy, but his opponent, billionaire Linda McMahon, made the race more competitive than anticipated.

In the solidly blue state, healthcare and women’s issues became the focus of the campaigns, but Murphy proved to voters that he would be friendlier to women’s issues such as abortion rights. He pointed out McMahon’s support for an amendment by Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) that would have allowed employers to refuse to cover contraception and other medical costs, and her desire to overturn the Affordable Care Act. Murphy also touted his role in helping to craft the healthcare reform law, while serving on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

McMahon, the former professional wrestling executive who had a tough time relating to voters in the 2010 Senate race, went after Murphy for his 2007 home foreclosure and for missing mortgage payments.