Joe Henderson: Stephanie Murphy has been a moderate voice in a time of extremes
U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy. Image via AP.

Stephanie Murphy
Her decision not to seek a fourth term in the U.S. House could leave Democrats scrambling to find a suitable replacement.

U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy proved it is possible for Democrats to believe in progressive social values and still care about its cost. Like most people in this country, Murphy could move to the right a little, then move back to the left, and usually wind up somewhere close to the center.

However, that’s not how the game is played these days — either in Washington or Tallahassee. Everything is a purity test of checked boxes, whether progressive or conservative.

That’s not who the people of Florida’s 7th Congressional District easily elected three times to represent them in Congress.

And with Murphy announcing Monday that she will not run for a fourth term, they may be hard-pressed to find a similar person to replace her in November 2022.

“These last few years have been some of the most rewarding moments of my life, but also some of the most challenging. Public service is not without personal sacrifice,” she shared in a video announcing her decision.

“And as a mom of two young children, my time away from them has been hard … This was not an easy decision, but it was the right decision.”

Murphy was co-chair of the Blue Dog Coalition. That’s a group of 21 House Democrats who call themselves pragmatists “appealing to the mainstream values of the American public.”

They believe in fiscal sanity, a strong defense, and working beyond party lines.

We don’t know for sure what her district will look like after the new boundaries are finalized. However, we do know that Republican challengers hopeful of grabbing the seat include state Rep. Anthony SabatiniCory MillsBrady Duke and Erika Benfield.

That’s a conga line of hard-right fire-breathers.

Mills is a decorated combat veteran who worked in the Defense Department under Donald Trump.

“Right now, we’re running on an America last agenda,” Mills told the Washington Examiner. “We’re prioritizing illegals over our military.”

Duke is a pastor and former Navy SEAL.

“As a Navy SEAL, I’ve looked into the face of evil in combat, and I will never back down from a fight in Washington,” he said. “Now, I’m a husband and father of five, and I’ve seen too many professional politicians compromising our country’s future and security. I’m ready to face these challenges to cut taxes, secure our border, defend life, and ensure the safety of our families at home and abroad.”

Benfield served as a DeBary City Commissioner and declared, “I am an unapologetic conservative who believes in the America First agenda championed by President Donald Trump.”

Sabatini, well, where do we start? He demanded an audit of Florida’s 2020 presidential election that Trump won by about 300,000 votes. But Sabatini said it would be OK to audit only those counties that Joe Biden won. His party leadership essentially ostracized him in Tallahassee for doing and saying reams of stupid things.

There will be no shortage of potential candidates from the left, either. Republicans targeted this district, believing they could knock out Murphy, but it could wind up looking as it basically does now. We’ll handicap this race after knowing a little more about what it looks like.

Here’s what we can say, however. The Democrats desperately need candidates who can attract moderate support, and Murphy’s departure could make that harder.

Joe Henderson

I have a 45-year career in newspapers, including nearly 42 years at The Tampa Tribune. Florida is wacky, wonderful, unpredictable and a national force. It's a treat to have a front-row seat for it all.


4 comments

  • Impeach Biden

    December 20, 2021 at 7:36 pm

    She’s a moderate in a party of extremists. I submit all the members of the squad as exhibit A.

    • Ocean Joe

      December 21, 2021 at 7:55 am

      I see your ‘squad’ and raise you a Louie Gohmert, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lauren Bobert and a Matt Gaetz. A royal flush.

      • Tom

        December 21, 2021 at 1:12 pm

        Sorry Joe H and Ocean Joe.

        The revised and new boundaries for Murphy & Crist Cong seat will go Repub. The newly drawn CD will go Repub. along with Texas that will set the course for a 60 seat GOP net
        House win. New majority.

        Senate will flip also by 6 plus seats, outside for 10. The VA & NJ races when extrapolated throughout country, really bad for Dems.

        America’s Gov will be re-elected with 55%. Will lead new majorities throughout legislature and local areas. Repub. will expand Gov mansions & state legislatures.

        Lastly, Gov Ron will review WH race, from Tallahassee to DC.

        Nov 22 bigly!

  • Ron Ogden

    December 21, 2021 at 5:39 am

    Remember the old days, when men wore suits and ties, and women wore dresses around the house, and bad little boys were the ones who set off firecrackers, not pistols, and a whole generation of teens with lots of opinions and no damn sense were getting ready to grow up and and dump a half-century of immoderate, misguided and pointless opinions on us? Ah, those were the days, weren’t they Joe?

Comments are closed.


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