Sen. Chris Murphy Floated for Clinton VP Pick: Report

U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy's (D-Conn.) name has been floated in a recent report about potential vice president picks for Hillary Clinton.

Murphy's name along with Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Calif) and others appeared in a USA Today report as some of the most likely picks.

Murphy is 42-years-old and the third youngest senator in the current class. There are only five current senators that were elected when they were in their 30's. He’s made strong use of social media to boost his national notability, particularly when it comes to issues about gun control.

He was previously the representative for the Fifth Congressional District for three terms and a member of the Connecticut General Assembly for eight years.

Both Murphy and Clinton have been outspoken gun control advocates. Murphy has been vocal about the lack of congressional gun control measures following mass shootings including Sandy Hook Elementary School and San Bernardino incidents.

If Clinton were elected and Murphy’s seat were vacated it would be replaced by Gov. Dannel Malloy’s pick. That person would serve until Jan. 3 after the next state election, which is when Murphy’s regular six-year senate term would expire.

That is an advantage Democrats would have in Connecticut. Other senators whose names have been floated such as Elizabeth Warren and Cory Booker hail from states with Republican governors.

On the downside, Connecticut is hardly a large swing state that can boost a person’s vice president nominee chances. Connecticut last voted for a Republican presidential candidate in the 1980’s and it only has seven electoral votes.

He lives in Cheshire with his wife and two young children.