Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT), a potential 2028 candidate for president, whiffed on another endorsement Tuesday night as his former House colleague, 78-year-old Rep. John Larson (D-CT), fell to a younger challenger.
It’s his third high-profile loss of the cycle as he tests his political influence ahead of a potential bid. In addition to Larson, Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL) and Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow also failed to make it past their Senate primary.
But Democratic strategists aren’t sweating these losses for Murphy come 2028.
“I do not think it matters one iota, and here’s why: Chris Murphy’s value proposition is as a young next generation energetic fighter who is sharp, persuasive, and on message, knows how to use social media, knows how to cut through the clutter and knows how to brush aside the business as usual stilted go along to get along bullshit of Washington that voters of all stripes despise,” Democratic strategist Jon Reinish told the Washington Examiner.
“He’s been really good at that, and that’s how he’s caught the public’s imagination,” Reinish continued. “It has nothing to do with an individual endorsement.”
While these misses may or may not prove consequential for the Connecticut Democrat, endorsements carry significant political weight. On the Democratic side, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) have been among the most influential and coveted endorsements this cycle, especially among the Left. President Donald Trump’s support remains the most important in Republican politics.
Moreover, endorsements can be used as a way to curry favor with the candidate for certain situations down the line, such as a bid for higher office.
For example, McMorrow backed Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s (D-MA) presidential campaign in 2020. Warren returned the favor by backing McMorrow’s campaign this year. She dropped out of the competitive Michigan Senate race before the primary that Abdul el Sayed went on to win against Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI).
Kelly earned Murphy’s backing because of their partnership on gun safety legislation, but finished a distant third in the primary.
Still, strategists insist the moves will be a nonfactor in two years.
“That is not going to weigh on any voter’s head whatsoever,” Reinish concluded. “Nor is any voter going to say, so and so is better at candidate recruitment.”
DEMOCRATIC REP. JOHN LARSON LOSES PRIMARY AS DEMOCRATS CONTINUE TO FACE GENERATIONAL RECKONING
One of Murphy’s endorsements came through Tuesday when Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan beat out Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN) in the bruising Senate primary.
Murphy, who has served in the Senate since 2013, has spent 19 years in Congress — first in the House and now in the Senate — becoming one of Connecticut’s best-known Democratic politicians. He has since gained momentum and landed himself on a short list for Democrats’ 2028 prospects.