Background
The son of a teacher and mail carrier, Murphy graduated from the David H. Hickman High School in Columbia, Missouri, in 1988, and later graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University.
United States Representative from New York
The son of a teacher and mail carrier, Murphy graduated from the David H. Hickman High School in Columbia, Missouri, in 1988, and later graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University.
AB magna cum laude, Harvard College, 1992.
Prior to re-districting after the 2010 census, the 20th district centered on much of the eastern portion of New York"s Capital District. 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. Major votes
On November 7, 2009, Murphy voted against the Affordable Care Acting.
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 Acting.
Committee assignments
Republican
Murphy served on the same two committees as his predecessor, now-Senator Kirsten Gillibrand:
Committee on Agriculture
Subcommittee on Conservation, Cr, 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
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 Rodham 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.
Member of Upstate Venture Association New York (president 2008-2009).
Married Jen Hogan, March 11, 2000. Children: Simone, Lux, Duke.