A leading voice of House Democrats’ moderate wing, Rep. Stephanie Murphy of Florida, has announced that she won’t run for reelection in the 2022 elections, giving the Democratic Party another big loss.
She said the reason is her family, as she wants to spend more time with them, which includes her two school-aged children.
“It’s been a real honor for me to serve in Congress, but it does come at a personal sacrifice. My time away has been hard on my family and my kids and on me,” Murphy said.
Her departure will happen after finishing her current term in the House, she said, where she and other moderates hope to help salvage President Joe Biden’s climate and social spending bill.
As for her future in politics, Murphy did not rule out a run for a different public role: “We’ll have to see what happens in the future.”
“When I left the Department of Defense, I knew then my time in public service wasn’t over. And I kind of feel the same way now,” Murphy added.
Florida Democrat acknowledged that Murphy’s departure is not like many of her colleagues, who are leaving to seek higher office or after spending decades in office.
“I think it’s hard for people in politics and especially in Washington to understand that someone at my age would quote-unquote, retire without having some sort of scandal or without fear of losing a reelection or without, immediately running for another position or job. But really, right now I need to be with my family,” Murphy said.