Murphy scores endorsements in Iowa 1st District Democratic race

DES MOINES — State Rep. Pat Murphy has scored the backing of a pair of liberal advocacy groups, including a first-ever endorsement in a Democratic primary by Americans for Democratic Action Iowa.

Murphy, a 25-year lawmaker from Dubuque, also received the support of the Human Rights Campaign, which like ADA, cited his support for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community.

Murphy and four other Democrats seeking the nomination to succeed U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley in Iowa's 1st District — Swati Dandekar, Anesa Kajtazovic, Dave O'Brien and Monica Vernon — are scheduled to participate in a candidate forum beginning at the Linn County Democratic Central Committee meeting. The forum will begin at 7:30 p.m. April 23 at Hiawatha City Hall, 101 Emmons St. The public is invited.

ADA Iowa, which has been organizing progressives in the 1st District since 2005, made its first endorsement because of the high stakes in the June 3 primary, state director Chris Schwartz said.

'It's a five-way contest, so it likely will be very close and our effort could make a difference,' Schwartz said Monday.

ADA, he said, 'is confident that with Murphy in Congress we will have a voice for workers, women, the LGBT, and all families struggling to get by in an economy built to the benefit of the 1 percent.'

ADA has 5,000 supporters in Iowa with more than half of them in the 20-county 1st, he said. The endorsement does not include any financial support, but ADA Iowa plans an aggressive voter contact and education program, knocking doors and making calls.

The Human Rights Campaign — the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender civil rights organization — endorsed Murphy based on his 'stellar record' on LGBT equality and his steadfast support of same-sex marriage.

'Murphy has not only been a supporter of LGBT equality, he has been a leader in the fight,' said Tom O'Donnell of HRC.

When the Iowa Supreme Court approved same-sex marriage in 2009, Murphy hailed the decision and worked to prevent attempts to amend the state's Constitution to reverse the decision.

'He stands with the LGBT community and will take that support to Washington,' O'Donnell said.