As we go into the fall campaign, we are in need of more interns to volunteer their time to help elect Chris Murphy the next Senator from Connecticut!
We'll need interns to help with everything from field organization to communications to finance. Your help is crucial -- it's no exaggeration to say that our interns provide the foundation for all of the work we're able to do in building the biggest grassroots organization in Connecticut's history.
But just as importantly, these internships are a great opportunity for students and recent grads to get valuable experiences working on campaigns. All of the departments have very hands-on internship positions - our interns will do everything from helping plan fundraising events to getting out the vote in November.
But you don't have to take our word for it -- check out this video from Andrew, one of our summer interns, on why he volunteered for Team Murphy.
We are accepting applications for both part-time and full-time positions in all of our field offices (Rocky Hill, New London, New Haven, Bridgeport, and Waterbury). You can apply here: www.ChrisMurphy.com/Interns.
Last night, Chris held a jobs town hall. It was a great chance for him to answer questions from voters and talk about his plans to help grow jobs here in Connecticut - and we had a packed house of people who wanted to talk about the most pressing issue in this election.
Unfortunately, this wasn't just supposed to be a town hall - it was supposed to be a debate between Chris and Linda McMahon so voters could have the chance to hear the real differences between the two candidates. A real debate, with no scripts, no flashy TV ads - what Connecticut voters need to make their choice in November.
It was disappointing that McMahon decided not to show up, but it just served to highlight another one of the differences between the two candidates. While Chris was ready and prepared to take any question about his economic plans, Linda refused to have a real conversation about how the jobs plan she bought gives herself a $7 million tax cut.
As Chris said: "It's disappointing that Linda McMahon decided not to show up. Because, as you just saw, it's not that hard. Standing up and defending your economic ideas is not that hard, when you have the right ideas."
To kick off the General Election campaign, Chris continued his Getting to Work tour at Proton OnSite in Wallingford, a global leader in hydrogen energy and gas alternative solutions. Proton OnSite is putting people to work in Connecticut developing new technologies that will make renewable energy a more viable alternative to fossil fuels.
Companies like Proton are a key part of Chris' plan to create jobs right here in Connecticut. In addition to creating manufacturing jobs that will put people back to work, Proton is a worthy recipient of federal grants -- they are working to develop new technologies that will make our environment, economy, and country more stable and secure. These grants are exactly the type of programs Chris will support as Senator -- and are exactly the type of support that will be slashed under McMahon's economic proposals.
As the general election campaign continues, Chris will continue his Getting to Work tour across the state to draw a comparison between what he will do to preserve and create jobs in Connecticut, and how that plan McMahon purchased from consultants in New York will harm our economy.
In winning yesterday's Democratic Primary by a 2-1 margin, Team Murphy proved that the positive grassroots organization we've built is ready to take on McMahon's millions. Together, we proved that we as a party are united with the momentum necessary to fight back against the attack machine McMahon will release in the fall.
And as Chris pointed out in his speech last night, over the next three months we're going to bring a choice to the people of Connecticut. On the one hand, you have Linda McMahon, who after making millions upon millions of dollars exposing kids to inappropriate material, has decided to try and buy a Senate seat so she can be a rubber stamp for the Romney/Ryan budget.
But Chris proposes a different vision for Connecticut, and for our country. He thinks that instead of padding the bottom lines of millionaires and billionaires, we should pad the bottom lines of the middle class. Instead of sending money overseas to oil companies that threaten our safety and pollute our environment, we should invest in wind and solar energy here in Connecticut to create thousands of jobs.
To bring that choice to the people of Connecticut, we have a lot of work to do. And I can't say it better than Chris did:
"So take a little bit of time off tomorrow, but tomorrow afternoon we're going to start a campaign over the next 85 days that is going to say to every person in this state, to every struggling family, to everyone who wants a voice in Washington that elections are not for sale in this state. That there is no substitute for hard work."
(If that doesn't get you fired up, I don't know what will!)
On Tuesday, August 14th, Democrats around the state will go to the polls to choose their nominee for the United States Senate. This is a critical moment for our campaign - we can't take for granted how much hard work it will take to ensure that Chris has the momentum to beat Linda McMahon and her millions in the fall.
And we can't do it without you. As Chris says, "If you were planning on volunteering for a couple of hours, do a couple of more."
It's game time for Team Murphy - but we know that the grassroots organization we've built during this campaign is the best Connecticut has ever seen. Sign up today to be a part of our statewide GOTV operation: www.chrismurphy.com/vote.
Chris spent the day today getting voters fired up in Waterbury, which is part of the district he represents in the House.
It's always great when we get to spend time talking to voters in the Fifth District. It seems like everybody knows Chris, and everyone - Democrat, Independent, or even Republican - knows and appreciates how hard he fights for the people of the district.
The day started at the Waterbury Farmers Market, and we crisscrossed the city, going from Drescher's Restaurant and the John Bale Book Company to the Village Green Community. Everywhere we went Chris was reminding voters how important it is that they come out and vote on August 14th - we've fought a tough race, and it's vitally important we have a strong showing before we face McMahon's millions in the fall.
Last night, Chris met with a small group of women in New London for his third roundtable discussion held by Women for Murphy. The conversation touched on a wide range of issues affecting women, including infrastructure, job creation, pay equity, education, and women's health.
In discussing education, the attendees specifically agreed that there is a need for more programs to encourage women to go into the sciences. Rosemary Palmieri from New Haven, a recent graduate of the Sound School, spoke about her experience as a woman interested in pursuing a career in science.
"The opportunities I received were actually outside of the classroom," Palmieri said. "I applied for an internship through my biotechnology class. In an effort to get more women involved in the sciences my bio teacher approached me about applying. I was one of 25 women in the country to be accepted, and now I am going to Dickinson in the fall and I plan to major in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry. We need to encourage women to explore fields like engineering and biosciences in and out of the classroom because we're not tapping into the resources we have and that's hurting us as a country."
When discussing the state of the economy, Sheila Hayes from Norwich spoke about the difficulties that small businesses face.
"What does an entrepreneur need? They need to be able to have access to dollars, affordable health care...basic materials for owning your own business," said Hayes. "Having come from a family of entrepreneurs I know firsthand that we need help breaking through those barriers."
Murphy agreed. "There are enormous barriers to get businesses started. There are far too many bureaucratic obstacles to starting a small business that we need to streamline, which will not only help our small business owners but cut costs for the government."
Today, Chris made his seventh Jobs Tour stop at Phoenix Press in New Haven. Like with previous stops in his jobs tour, Chris spent his time at the company both talking to the management as well as spending time talking with - and working alongside - some of their employees.
Phoenix Press is based in New Haven - and has the distinction of being the home of the only wind turbine in New Haven. They're able to save more than $30,000 a year in utility costs - and they're therefore able to reinvest in their company, creating jobs in the region. Additionally, it helps ensure that their company has a much lower environmental impact on the city. Phoenix Press is, as Chris pointed out during his tour, a prime example of how investing in green energy can help create thousands of jobs nationally.
Afterwards, Chris received the endorsement of the Sierra Club. They noted that this isn't the first time they've endorsed Chris - they first supported him back during his first re-election campaign to the State House. In addition to speaking about the need for investments in renewable energy - both to protect our environment and create jobs - Chris talked about how it was environmental issues that first got him involved in politics.
"I remember being involved in an environmental organization, and we would go clean up rivers every weekend," he said. "And it got me thinking - why do we come out and clean these same places every weekend? Why don't we also work to make sure our leaders are working to protect our environment?"
You can check out some photos from the events - including of Chris getting to work at Phoenix Press - below:
This weekend, Team Murphy welcomed its newest member - Zach Wahls, LGBT activist and author of "My Two Moms." Zach came to the nation's attention when he delivered an incredibly moving speech before the Iowa State House against a proposed amendment limiting marriage to between one man and one woman. Since then, he's dedicated himself to not only changing the way we talk about gay rights - making it a conversation about respect instead of hate.
When he asked to come in to endorse Chris - we were thrilled. It was great to get to spend the afternoon with him, and hear his inspiring story. You can check out a video message from Zach above, and some pictures from the event with Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman and State Senator Beth Bye.
Come rain or shine, Team Murphy never stops! Today, even as the rain came down, volunteers were out hitting the doors as Chris spent time meeting with voters in Waterbury, Morris, Simsbury, and Glastonbury.
It's always great to see Chris interact with voters at fairs and festivals - you can tell that he is really invested in what people are saying, whether it's at the Bantam Lake Outing or a DTC picnic in Simsbury (even while the storm was raging). But the best thing is getting to spend time with our volunteers. They have unsurpassed dedication and excitement - no matter where they are or what they're doing. An especially big shout out to the 86 volunteers who showed up to canvass in New Haven - they only stopped once the rain got too bad, and now they're hitting the phones! We couldn't do it without them.
This week, we're introducing you to Andrew, a Team Murphy field intern in the Third District. On Saturday, he helped run a canvass in New Haven in Ward 20 - going out to tell voters why they should support Chris Murphy in the August 14th Democratic primary.
He had some awesome stuff to say when asked why he volunteers for Chris - you can watch him in the video above!
Yesterday evening, a small group of local women gathered to discuss policy issues with Chris Murphy at the University of Connecticut in Stamford. The roundtable was held by Women for Murphy and featured conversation on a variety of issues affecting women. Topics included women’s health, general healthcare policy, the economy and education.
A concern echoed by many of the women was a need to improve the quality of education and close the achievement gap in the state.
“It starts at pre-school,” said Deborah Williams, a small business owner from Stamford. “These kids, they’re not going to pre-school. They’re not going to head start. They’re coming into kindergarten years behind, from the very beginning.”
“There is no issue more central to the future of this country than fixing our education system,” said Murphy. “We are never going to be the cheapest place to make something in the world and we are only going to succeed by being the smartest place. The entire key to our economic salvation as a country is getting education right, and what I fear is that we are losing generations of kids in underserved, poor school systems. I think this is the question of the generation: how do you fix our school systems, specifically, how do you tackle urban education in our state?”
Murphy has been strong advocate for women’s issues as both a state legislator and a congressman. These roundtables will serve to help Murphy learn directly from everday Connecticut women about how to best represent them in Congress.
Today, we're launching a series we'll be running for the rest of our campaign - we'll be introducing you to some of the hardest working and invaluable members of Team Murphy: our interns!
Every week over the next few months, we'll be introducing you to who our interns are and what they do. And believe me, Team Murphy wouldn't be able to run without their help in all of our departments, from field and finance to new media and communications. We really appreciate all of the time they donate to the campaign - and it really is a lot!
To kick off the series, Chris sat down and had breakfast with most of our interns. You can watch a video from the breakfast above! If you're interested and coming and helping our interns out, you can sign up at www.ChrisMurphy.com/Volunteer.
Today was the first in a series of roundtables organized by Women for Murphy. Chris will be travelling the state and talking to women from all walks of life about the issues that matter most to them, from jobs and the economy to health care and reproductive rights. The group discussed a wide range of issues: paycheck fairness, healthcare, family values and even campaign strategy.
Many expressed concern for how entire families are impacted when women in the workforce receive less compensation for their time on the job than men. All of the roundtable participants also voiced their support for the healthcare legislation, citing personal experiences with how having access to good healthcare has improved their quality of living. You can watch a video from one of our supporters, Rachel Garron, talking about why she supports Chris after the roundtable below.
To learn more about Chris' record of standing up for women's rights, please visit www.ChrisMurphy.com/Women
Today, Team Murphy officially opened its New Haven headquarters, which will be our Third Congressional District field office. It was a great event - in addition to more than 20 volunteers, we had a huge number of local dignitaries, from Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney, Senator Gayle Slossberg, and Senator Toni Harp, to State Representative Gary Holder-Winfield and New Haven Alderman Frank Douglass, Jr. It was really an awesome crowd.
From Chris to our volunteers, everyone was fired up. Suffice it to say - there was a lot of cheering (as you can see in the video above)! While it was an exciting event, I think the most important part was what all of our volunteers were saying - "we still have a lot of work to do." It's great to know we have such a committed team of supporters who will be working out of our office in New Haven every day!
Check out some pictures from the event below, and sign up to come in and volunteer at www.ChrisMurphy.com/volunteer.
Today marked the fifth stop in Chris' "Getting to Work" Jobs Tour - this time Chris talked with the Bridgeport Police Department on ways public investment can create jobs and make our cities and towns safer.
Chris and Police Chief Joseph Gaudett talked about the success of the COPS grant program, which will allow Bridgeport to hire an additional 20 police officers this year.
“I had a great time speaking with the Bridgeport police force today,” said Murphy. “It’s important for me to hear from who is doing the hiring but it’s also important for me to hear from employees. We’ve all seen politicians taking a top-down approach, telling people what they need, but this tour is different. Listening has become a lost art in government—but it's what I've always done and how I've developed some of my most important legislation."
After, Chris got the chance to do a ride along with Captain AJ Perez and Sergeant Robert Bigelow as they went on patrol. He got a chance to learn first hand the challenges facing officers in Connecticut's biggest City, and how support from the federal and state government can ensure they have the resources they need.
Chris had a busy Independence Day, crossing the state to celebrate the Fourth of July. He joined more than 30 volunteers for a parade in Willimantic, and greeted voters on a beach in East Lyme. Check out pictures here!
Yesterday was a very exciting day for Team Murphy as Chris received the endorsement of New Haven Mayor John DeStefano, 27 of 30 members of the New Haven Board of Aldermen, and the New Haven DTC - the first time in decades that they have endorsed a candidate for the Senate.
“Chris Murphy knows how to get the job done – he’s been standing up for working families, for middle class families for his entire career,” said Congresswoman Rosa Delauro. “He’s been an outstanding member of the House of Representatives, made a difference in the health care legislation, is working to buy American, to create jobs, manufacturing jobs for the state of Connecticut and I am honored to endorse him for the United States Senate.”
“I know Chris offers a combination of character, temperament, and public policy that will emphasize an optimistic vision of American and that’s good to support in a candidate and in a vision for our country,” said New Haven Mayor John DeStefano as he and the New Haven delegation endorsed Chris Murphy for Senate.
“This is a day that as a candidate for statewide office you dream about, to have this kind of support from New Haven, a city that represents the best of Connecticut,” said Chris Murphy. “To mayor John DeStefano, who has been a model of urban representation, someone who has broken the mold in terms of trying to bring new economic opportunities to his city, to the board of aldermen, to have that kind of support from the board, to have the town committee support as well it means the world to me.”
After a hot day of parades and door knocking, Chris took a brief respite to help open the Stamford Democratic Committee's headquarters.
There was an awesome crowd - made even better by the illustrious speaking panel that joined Chris. Chris's good friend Jim Hines was there to introduce him and said "When I got to the House, Chris really took me under his wing to show me how things worked. And the great thing about Chris is that he doesn't just always vote with our party, he votes for what's right. And I really admire him."
Chris also mentioned our newest campaign tool: Family, Friends, and Neighbors. It allows supporters to go through our voter file, find the people they know, and send them personalized postcards. You can signup to participate here: www.ffandn.com/chrismurphy.
By the end of all the speeches, the crowd was really fired up. As Chris put it, "Our opponents may have millions of dollars, but I have you."
