U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy is donating more than $500,000 to various Democratic committees, including ones that handle competitive House and Senate races, according to Politico, as he steps up his involvement weeks out from the midterm elections. Murphy also met with Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee in Michigan’s Senate race, who visited D.C. this week.
Murphy donates over $500,000 to Democratic committees ahead of midterms
U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy is donating more than $500,000 to various Democratic committees, including ones that handle competitive House and Senate races, according to Politico, as he steps up his involvement weeks out from the midterm elections. Murphy also met with Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee in Michigan’s Senate race, who visited D.C. this week.
Murphy initially endorsed one of El-Sayed’s primary opponents, but praised him as “more of a bridge builder here than folks think he will be.” El-Sayed is a progressive candidate and a critic of Israel who won a primary that divided Democrats.
The Voter Participation Task Force got underway this week, authorized by legislation passed in response to lobbying by Miles Rapoport, the former secretary of the state. Rapoport, who is co-chairing the task force with Rep. Hilda Santiago, D-Meriden, says it will seek ways to improve turnout. Their recommendations to the General Assembly are due Feb. 1.
Voter turnout in Connecticut is above the national average, but trails other states. Turnout varies from cycle to cycle, peaking in presidential years and falling in midterm and municipal elections. Connecticut’s turnout was 67% in the 2024 presidential election — 2.4 percentage points above the national average. In the 2022 midterm, it fell to 49%.
The August jobs report from the Department of Labor shows unemployment dipping slightly to 5.1% and payroll jobs falling by 300 while private sector job growth grew to 1,495,700 jobs. The unemployment decrease, while small, is the first drop after months of increases. The state also continues to see people exit the labor force; in August the labor force declined by 4,100. A new Connecticut Business and Industry Association survey of the state’s businesses finds that businesses in the state are reporting hiring issues, with 25% of respondents saying they are struggling to find skilled workers.
At this year’s back to school conference for Connecticut superintendents, the keynote speech was about jobs — STEM jobs. National Math and Science Initiative CEO Jeremy Anderson told school leaders the STEM-related workforce is projected to grow 3.5 times faster than any other by 2032. Anderson also noted STEM access remains inequitable and encouraged schools to proactively cultivate a “STEM identity” in students from underrepresented demographics (e.g. nonwhite, female). He said NMSI has found students who see themselves as future scientists and engineers are far more likely to get a STEM degree in college.
The state announced a new Haunted History Trail as its latest tourism campaign for fall. The trail includes more than 130 places from around the state, from haunted sites like hotels and cemeteries, to museums and theaters. The state is also calling attention to the history of the Connecticut Witch Trials, which spanned more than four decades and started before the more widely known trials in Salem, Mass. The campaign comes as the state looks to build off tourism from 2025, when visitors to the state generated some $20.1 billion in economic impact.
- The source does not state the exact date of Murphy’s donations or the exact date the Voter Participation Task Force got underway.
- The source does not state how much Murphy donated to each Democratic committee or which specific committees received funds.
- The source does not state Abdul El-Sayed’s response to Murphy’s praise or their meeting.
- The source does not state Rep. Hilda Santiago’s position on voter turnout or the task force.
- The source does not state the names of the tourism officials who announced the Haunted History Trail.
- The source does not state the methodology or source of the $20.1 billion tourism economic impact figure.
Read the original at CT Mirror