Apr 10, 2025 - Politics & Policy

Chris Murphy raises eye-popping $8 million

Stephen Neukam

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) walks to the Senate Chambers during a vote at the U.S. Capitol on February 13, 2025 in Washington, DC. — Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) at the U.S. Capitol in February. Photo: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a favorite of the party's grassroots, raised $8 million in the first quarter of the year, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: It is an eye-popping fundraising haul for a senator who doesn't face reelection for another five years. Instead, he says he is investing the money into organizing efforts.

The 51-year-old senator has emerged as a leading voice in the Senate and on social media in the frontlines of the Democrats' fight against the Trump administration.
Murphy has recently been doing events outside of Connecticut, with a stop in a Republican congressional district in Michigan last month.
"It's an amount of trust in me and responsibility that I do not take lightly, and I pledge to be a good steward of these resources," Murphy said in an email to supporters on Thursday.

The big picture: Murphy's popularity with the grassroots on social media has carried over to his fundraising operation.

85% of those who donated to Murphy in the first three months of this year were first-time donors, he said in the email to supporters. The average donation was under $30.
Murphy asked supporters to fill out a survey about how they'd like him to invest the money. "Your input tells my team and me where we should put in the bulk of our time and energy," he said.

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Chris Murphy raises eye-popping $8 million

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