Murphy wants to keep on ‘fighting for Democratic values’ in Congress

Pat Murphy doesn't know if he's the frontrunner in what's shaping up to be a five-way contest for the Democratic nomination in Iowa's U.S. House 1

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And he's not going to worry about it because he's “head, neck and shoulders more involved in these communities” than his rivals, Murphy said after a Mount Vernon house party Thursday night.

“I'm no stranger to the Democratic activists,” the former speaker of the Iowa House said Thursday. “I've been in every county. I've raised money in every county. I've recruited candidates in every county and I've elected more Democrats than anyone else.

“I've run a lot more grass roots races than all the others combined,” the Dubuque Democrat said matter-of-factly.

“All the others” seeking the Democratic nomination are former legislator and Iowa Utilities Board member Swati Dandekar of Marion, business owner and City Councilwoman Monica Vernon and attorney Dave O'Brien, both of Cedar Rapids, and Rep. Anesa Kajtazovic of Waterloo.

Murphy's efforts won't cease if he's the nominee for the seat held by fellow Democrat Rep. Bruce Braley.

“I'll continue to knock on doors, raise money and elect as many Democrats as possible,” he promised more than 50 people who attended the fundraiser hosted by former Reps. Ro Foege and Nate Willems, both of Mount Vernon, who served when Murphy as House speaker.

Willems vouched for Murphy, describing him as a knowledgeable, hardworking “consistent Democrat who won't embarrass you.”

“He's a survivor,” Foege said about Murphy who grew up in a family of 10. “When you come from a big family you also learn to cooperate.”

For the past 24 years as a legislator he's been promoting Democratic values – raising the minimum wage, funding universal preschool, protecting freedom of choice and family planning funding, expanding civil rights protections and blocking attempts to reinstate a ban on same-sex marriage, Murphy said.

As a congressman, the self-described “FDR Democrat” said his priorities would be protecting Social Security, Medicare and the Affordable Care Act, job creation, repealing the federal Defense of Marriage Act and “working together.”

“The House is a little dysfunctional,” Murphy said, adding that although “there are things we need to work together on … but I will never walk away from Democratic values.”

For more about Murphy, visit

http://www.patmurphyforiowa.com/