Scott Murphy


Matthew Scott Murphy is an American entrepreneur and a former U.S. Representative for, having served a portion of one term from April 2009 until January 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party and during his term was a member of the Blue Dog Coalition in Congress. He was defeated in his attempt to attain election to a full term on November 2, 2010. Prior to re-districting in 2013 after the 2010 census, the 20th district centered on much of the eastern portion of New York's Capital District.

Early life, education and career

The son of a teacher and mail carrier, Murphy graduated from the David H. Hickman High School in Columbia, Missouri, in 1988, He later graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College.
Murphy worked for Bankers Trust for two and a half years in the early 1990s before becoming an entrepreneur. In 1994, he co-founded an interactive media company, Small World Software. In 1998 the company, which had grown to 25 employees, was purchased by the internet-consulting company iXL. He then served as one of the heads of the purchased entity, rebranded "iXL New York". iXL later went bankrupt in 2002 during the end of the dot-com bubble. In 2001 Murphy joined Advantage Capital Partners, an Impact Investing Company that attempts to bring businesses, technologies and jobs to communities that have historically lacked access to investment capital.
He is a past-President of the Board of Directors of Upstate Capital Association, He worked as an aide, Deputy Chief of Staff, and fundraiser for former Governors of Missouri Mel Carnahan and Roger B. Wilson.

U.S. House of Representatives

2009 special election

On January 22, 2009, Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand, a Democrat representing, was appointed by Governor David Paterson to fill the United States Senate seat vacated by Hillary Clinton, who assumed the office of United States Secretary of State in the Obama administration.
On February 1, 2009, Murphy was chosen by a unanimous vote of ten Democratic county chairs to be their party's nominee for 2009 special election to fill Gillibrand's seat in the House.
Murphy ran against Republican nominee Jim Tedisco from Schenectady, who, until April 2009, was the Minority Leader of the New York State Assembly. Murphy was endorsed by President Barack Obama and Senator Gillibrand.
The initial count from the election had Murphy leading by approximately 60 votes out of more than 150,000 cast. However, by April 24, after re-tallies and absentee ballot counting, Murphy was ahead by 399 votes, and Tedisco conceded the election. Murphy was sworn in on April 29.

Major votes

On November 7, 2009, Murphy voted against the Affordable Care Act. Murphy opposed the Stupak Amendment which proposed to restrict federal funding and subsidies for plans that cover elective abortion.
In March 2010, Murphy supported the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act., known today as Obamacare.
In December 2010, Murphy voted for the Protecting Students from Sexual and Violent Predators Act. which require criminal background checks for school employees and prohibits the employment of school employees who refuse to consent to a criminal background check, make false statements in connection with one, or have been convicted of one of a list of felonies or any other crime that is a violent or sexual crime against a child. The felonies included are homicide, child abuse or neglect, rape or sexual assault, crimes against children, spousal abuse, kidnapping, arson, and physical assault, battery, or drug-related offenses, committed within the past five years.

Committee assignments

Rep. Murphy served on the same two committees as his predecessor, now-Senator Kirsten Gillibrand:
In 2010, Murphy ran for a full two-year term representing the 20th district. He lost the election to the Republican nominee, Chris Gibson.

Personal life

Murphy is married to Jennifer Hogan, a native of Washington County. They have three children, Simone, Lux and Duke. All three attend school in New York City while living part time in Glens Falls.