Lois Murphy
Encyclopedia
Lois Murphy is a Democrat
from the state
of Pennsylvania
, who unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. House
in Pennsylvania's 6th congressional district
(map) against the Republican
incumbent, Jim Gerlach
in 2004 and 2006.
and Radcliffe College
magna cum laude in 1984, and from Harvard Law School
cum laude in 1987. Murphy clerked for a judge in the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
(1987-1989), and later worked as a lawyer for the Justice Department
(1989-1990). She has also taught law at Temple University
, worked for NARAL Pro-Choice America
, and is now a member of a private law firm. She was appointed by Governor
Ed Rendell
to the Pennsylvania Commission for Women in 2003, and is a trustee of the Women's Law Project.
's campaign in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
.
In 2004, she ran for Congress
against Republican Jim Gerlach
. She lost by 2%, the closest margin for an incumbent re-elected that year.
In 2006, in a rematch of the 2004 race, she lost to Gerlach by 1.2%.
Lois Murphy - 153,977 - 49.0%
Jim Gerlach - 160,348 - 51.0%
2006 - United States House of Representatives
Lois Murphy - 115,806 - 49.4%
Jim Gerlach - 118,807 - 50.6%
primary over Mike Leibowitz, a real estate executive, with 73 percent of the vote. She again faced Gerlach in the general election. Gerlach was at that time considered one of the most vulnerable congressmen in 2006, in November.
As of September 30, 2006, Gerlach had raised $2.9 million compared to Murphy's $2.8 million, and had $1.2 million cash on hand versus Murphy's $900,000. The National Republican Congressional Committee
spent $1.6 million in support of Gerlach.
In unofficial results as of November 8, 2006, Murphy lost by 3,001 votes (about 1.2%). See Pennsylvania 6th Congressional District election, 2006 for details.
Court of Common Pleas, the only Democrat to win election to the court.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
from the state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, who unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. House
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
in Pennsylvania's 6th congressional district
Pennsylvania's 6th congressional district
Pennsylvania's 6th Congressional District was substantially redrawn in 2002. Its strange shape brought charges of gerrymandering by Democrats who argued it "looms like a dragon descending on Philadelphia from the west, splitting up towns and communities throughout Montgomery and Berks Counties." ...
(map) against the Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
incumbent, Jim Gerlach
Jim Gerlach
James "Jim" Gerlach is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party.- Early life, education and career :...
in 2004 and 2006.
Education and career
Murphy graduated from Harvard CollegeHarvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
and Radcliffe College
Radcliffe College
Radcliffe College was a women's liberal arts college in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and was the coordinate college for Harvard University. It was also one of the Seven Sisters colleges. Radcliffe College conferred joint Harvard-Radcliffe diplomas beginning in 1963 and a formal merger agreement with...
magna cum laude in 1984, and from Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
cum laude in 1987. Murphy clerked for a judge in the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit is one of the thirteen United States Courts of Appeals...
(1987-1989), and later worked as a lawyer for the Justice Department
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
(1989-1990). She has also taught law at Temple University
Temple University Beasley School of Law
The Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law is the law school and a constituent academic unit of Temple University. Informally referred to as Temple Law School, the school is located at the Main Campus of Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Temple University James E...
, worked for NARAL Pro-Choice America
NARAL Pro-Choice America
NARAL Pro-Choice America , formerly the National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws, then National Abortion Rights Action League, and later National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League, is an organization in the United States that engages in political action to oppose...
, and is now a member of a private law firm. She was appointed by Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
Ed Rendell
Ed Rendell
Edward Gene "Ed" Rendell is an American politician who served as the 45th Governor of Pennsylvania. Rendell, a member of the Democratic Party, was elected Governor of Pennsylvania in 2002, and his term of office began January 21, 2003...
to the Pennsylvania Commission for Women in 2003, and is a trustee of the Women's Law Project.
Family
Lois Murphy is married to lawyer Benjamin Eisner, whom she met at Harvard. They have two daughters, Emily and Lily. Emily Eisner is currently attending Dartmouth University.Political career
In 2002 she ran Pennsylvania Governor Ed RendellEd Rendell
Edward Gene "Ed" Rendell is an American politician who served as the 45th Governor of Pennsylvania. Rendell, a member of the Democratic Party, was elected Governor of Pennsylvania in 2002, and his term of office began January 21, 2003...
's campaign in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Montgomery County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of 2010, the population was 799,874, making it the third most populous county in Pennsylvania . The county seat is Norristown.The county was created on September 10, 1784, out of land originally part...
.
In 2004, she ran for Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
against Republican Jim Gerlach
Jim Gerlach
James "Jim" Gerlach is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party.- Early life, education and career :...
. She lost by 2%, the closest margin for an incumbent re-elected that year.
In 2006, in a rematch of the 2004 race, she lost to Gerlach by 1.2%.
Election history
2004 - United States House of RepresentativesLois Murphy - 153,977 - 49.0%
Jim Gerlach - 160,348 - 51.0%
2006 - United States House of Representatives
Lois Murphy - 115,806 - 49.4%
Jim Gerlach - 118,807 - 50.6%
2006 campaign
In 2006, Murphy won the Democratic PartyDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
primary over Mike Leibowitz, a real estate executive, with 73 percent of the vote. She again faced Gerlach in the general election. Gerlach was at that time considered one of the most vulnerable congressmen in 2006, in November.
As of September 30, 2006, Gerlach had raised $2.9 million compared to Murphy's $2.8 million, and had $1.2 million cash on hand versus Murphy's $900,000. The National Republican Congressional Committee
National Republican Congressional Committee
The National Republican Congressional Committee is the Republican Hill committee which works to elect Republicans to the United States House of Representatives....
spent $1.6 million in support of Gerlach.
In unofficial results as of November 8, 2006, Murphy lost by 3,001 votes (about 1.2%). See Pennsylvania 6th Congressional District election, 2006 for details.
Judicial career
On November 3, 2009, she was elected to the Montgomery CountyMontgomery County, Pennsylvania
Montgomery County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of 2010, the population was 799,874, making it the third most populous county in Pennsylvania . The county seat is Norristown.The county was created on September 10, 1784, out of land originally part...
Court of Common Pleas, the only Democrat to win election to the court.
See also
- Notable U.S. House elections, 2006 - Pennsylvania