Democratic Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy is excoriating his same-party colleagues for joining with Republicans to end the government shutdown, appearing to argue that bipartisanship poses an existential threat for the future of American democracy.
During a visit to the early presidential primary state of New Hampshire on Wednesday, Murphy said his party must stand united against Republicans moving forward or risk losing “our democracy.” The left-wing Democrat, who is seen as a possible 2028 presidential contender, also deflected when asked whether Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer should continue to lead Democrats.
“The only way we’re going to survive this moment is to stay united,” Murphy said in a video obtained by the Daily Caller News Foundation. “There’s obviously been this repeating phenomenon where a handful of Democrats crosses over and works with Republicans. I don’t know that you can save our democracy, if we aren’t united.”
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Murphy’s remarks come after eight Senate Democratic Caucus members defected from Schumer’s hardball shutdown strategy and cast the deciding votes to advance a stopgap spending bill that had previously stalled for weeks.
Two of the Democrats who broke ranks to end the funding lapse were New Hampshire Sens. Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen, who cited the shutdown’s toll on their shared constituents for ending the stalemate. The duo have also voiced optimism that Republicans will work with them on extending enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits in December.
Murphy has not singled out the renegade senators by name, but sharply criticized their decision to cut a deal with Republicans to reopen the government.
“What happened in our caucus last week can’t continue to happen,” Murphy said. “We’ve got to stay united.”
The Connecticut Democrat had urged his colleagues to prolong the shutdown fight following the party sweeping key races in November’s off-year elections. Murphy predicted that Democrats folding before having their shutdown demands met would unleash “some pretty substantial damage” to the party’s brand, which he argued was on the upswing after the party’s disastrous performance in the 2024 elections.
Murphy did not directly answer when pressed on the future of Schumer’s leadership over Senate Democrats stating, “I think Chuck has a super hard job right now.”
Though Schumer vocally opposed the bipartisan spending package to fund the government, the minority leader has enraged the party’s left flank for failing to keep his caucus united against Republicans during the record-breaking shutdown.
More than ten House Democrats have called on Schumer to step aside. No Senate Democrat has yet to issue a similar statement.
Schumer’s progressive critics also lambasted his decision to work with Republicans to avert a government shutdown in March.
Murphy demurred when asked whether he is considering a run for president.
“I’m here because New Hampshire is the epicenter of American democracy, in some ways,” Murphy said. “I’m just here to say thank you for what they did to elect a bunch of Democrats in this last election and to spur them on.”
Murphy visited the Granite State for a town hall event organized by the New Hampshire Institute of Politics and Democratic group Stand Up New Hampshire.
A spokesperson for Murphy did not respond to the DCNF’s request for comment prior to publication.
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