Patrick Murphy for U.S. Senate: Endorsements

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board has endorsed Congressman Patrick Murphy for U.S. Senate.

This year's U.S. Senate race in Florida is not an insider-outsider clash. Two sitting members of Congress — Republican incumbent Marco Rubio of Miami and Democratic challenger Patrick Murphy, a U.S. House member from Jupiter — are vying for a six-year Senate term.

Until now, we have never missed an opportunity to recommend Marco Rubio to voters. We endorsed him from his first Senate bid in 2010, when we called him "smart, well-spoken and brimming with ideas." This year we endorsed him when he was running for his party's White House nomination before Florida's presidential preference primary in March.

After Rubio dropped out of the presidential race and jumped back into the Senate race, we recommended him to Republican voters in the GOP primary in August. At that point, we had misgivings about his lack of commitment to the job, but we considered him to be far more capable than his only viable primary opponent, Bradenton businessman Carlos Beruff.

This race is different.

A moderate Democrat

Murphy, who easily defeated U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson of Orlando in this year's Democratic primary, has been elected to two terms in Congress. He came into office with a thin resume, but he has gained valuable experience. He also has earned a good reputation for constituent service, a responsibility that looms even more important for a senator who would represent 20 million people.

Murphy was buoyed in the primary by the endorsements of President Obama and Vice President Biden, dozens of his fellow House Democrats and more than 20 Florida mayors, including Orlando's Buddy Dyer. Many of them pegged Murphy as the kind of moderate Democrat — think Bob Graham or Bill Nelson — who historically has appealed to Florida voters.

While he is running on some ideas most popular among progressive Democrats in his current campaign, including a $15-an-hour minimum wage, Murphy has sought opportunities to work across the aisle in the House and has bucked his party's leaders on some big votes. Unlike many other Democrats in Congress, he has co-sponsored proposals to reduce deficit spending. His bipartisan approach to legislating is especially welcome during this polarized era in Washington.

Rubio's retreat

Rubio demonstrated bipartisanship when he joined with senators from both parties in 2013 to draft an immigration-reform bill that passed his chamber with 68 votes. But as the bill stalled in the House amid opposition from the Republican Party's base and Rubio geared up for his presidential campaign, he backed away.

Rubio also backed away from the day-to-day responsibilities of representing Florida in the U.S. Senate. Between April 2015 and March 2016, he missed 65 percent of Senate votes, according to Politifact. He defended himself by arguing that running for president is a full-time job. True, but so is representing Florida in the U.S. Senate. Yet in his current re-election campaign, he has pointedly refused to rule out another presidential bid in 2020.

So if Rubio is re-elected to the Senate, and decides to pivot for another run for the White House in a couple of years, Floridians won't be getting the full attention that they expect and deserve. They also are more likely to see him do things, like retreating on immigration reform, that make more sense for a GOP presidential candidate than a sitting Florida senator.

All of Rubio's experience and talents, if they are at risk of being diverted elsewhere, aren't enough to persuade us to recommend him to voters for another U.S. Senate term. We endorse Democrat Patrick Murphy.

Patrick Murphy for U.S. Senate: Endorsements 2016 - Orlando Sentinel


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Apparently the Orlando Sentinel and voters have short memories. When progressive Obama took office in 2008 he did so with a progressive majority in both Houses and America has not recovered yet from the damage they inflicted on its citizens. Just on principle voters should split their vote to ensure the separation of powers stays in play.

Most pundits believe Hillary has the electoral college locked up already. Whether that is a result of the popular vote or a rigged system doesn't matter because no one will ever be able to prove otherwise. So it means that the the safe bet is to maintain both houses in Republican hands; otherwise Clinton's policies and regulations will only result in the same dismal performance as Obama

Personal Best Regards:

Originally Posted by Guest

Apparently the Orlando Sentinel and voters have short memories. When progressive Obama took office in 2008 he did so with a progressive majority in both Houses and America has not recovered yet from the damage they inflicted on its citizens. Just on principle voters should split their vote to ensure the separation of powers stays in play.

Most pundits believe Hillary has the electoral college locked up already. Whether that is a result of the popular vote or a rigged system doesn't matter because no one will ever be able to prove otherwise. So it means that the the safe bet is to maintain both houses in Republican hands; otherwise Clinton's policies and regulations will only result in the same dismal performance as Obama

Personal Best Regards:

I'm thinking you are a newer resident in Florida, unfamiliar with editorial endorsements from major Central Florida media.

The Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board endorsing a Democrat is a big deal. The Editorial Board, itself, essentially says the same thing!


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Why is it a big deal? The Slantinel usually endorses dems..

May I kindly suggest you please read the endorsement first. It will dispute your misguided premise posted here. The ORLANDO SENTINEL had endorsed Rubio for years. It chose not to in this election with logical examples to support its decision.


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Originally Posted by Guest

Apparently the Orlando Sentinel and voters have short memories. When progressive Obama took office in 2008 he did so with a progressive majority in both Houses and America has not recovered yet from the damage they inflicted on its citizens. Just on principle voters should split their vote to ensure the separation of powers stays in play.

Most pundits believe Hillary has the electoral college locked up already. Whether that is a result of the popular vote or a rigged system doesn't matter because no one will ever be able to prove otherwise. So it means that the the safe bet is to maintain both houses in Republican hands; otherwise Clinton's policies and regulations will only result in the same dismal performance as Obama

Personal Best Regards:

Ah, still at it after all these years. "Yawn" Have you noticed that your record is still broken?

Originally Posted by Xavier

Ah, still at it after all these years. "Yawn" Have you noticed that your record is still broken?

Would you please explain your comment to me? It's ambiguous to those of us who don't know the dynamics between the two of you. And, may I ask how this relates to Orlando Sentinel endorsement of Patrick Murphy.

I'm trying to stay on topic here!


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Usually when a movie critic says a movie sucks, I can count on it being entertaining. I have found that this usually also pertains to newspapers endorsing a candidate. If they endorse them, I can pretty much figure on the opposing candidate being the one I will prefer. This is not static as in an absolute, but generally speaking a norm.

Originally Posted by Guest

Usually when a movie critic says a movie sucks, I can count on it being entertaining. I have found that this usually also pertains to newspapers endorsing a candidate. If they endorse them, I can pretty much figure on the opposing candidate being the one I will prefer. This is not static as in an absolute, but generally speaking a norm.

If that's the case, I'm thinking you are living out of your element.



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Originally Posted by GoldenHurricane

I'm thinking you are a newer resident in Florida, unfamiliar with editorial endorsements from major Central Florida media.

The Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board endorsing a Democrat is a big deal. The Editorial Board, itself, essentially says the same thing!


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You are mistaken. The Orlando Sentinel and The Tampa Bay Times are both Democratic in their political views.

Originally Posted by Guest

Usually when a movie critic says a movie sucks, I can count on it being entertaining. I have found that this usually also pertains to newspapers endorsing a candidate. If they endorse them, I can pretty much figure on the opposing candidate being the one I will prefer. This is not static as in an absolute, but generally speaking a norm.

Their interests and our interests seldom agree.

Hint: If they're a D or R...their interests and our interests will NOT agree.

Originally Posted by Guest

You are mistaken. The Orlando Sentinel and The Tampa Bay Times are both Democratic in their political views.

Check again.

Orlando Sentinel endorsements through the years - tribunedigital-orlandosentinel

Originally Posted by Guest

You are mistaken. The Orlando Sentinel and The Tampa Bay something are both Democratic in their political views.

Having lived in Tampa some 17 years ago, the Tampa Bay Times used to be the St Pete Times in Pinellas County, one of the oldest newspapers in nation, and with a liberal leaning. In Tampa, we had the Tampa Tribune in Hillsborough County, with a more conservative leaning. At some point in recent time, the Tribune folded and the St Pete Times bought them out, taking over circulation for the whole of Tampa Bay – and changing its name to Tampa Bay Times.

When I lived in Orlando prior to my moving to TV five years ago, the Sentinel was considered a more conservative newspaper.

Is there anything else you'd like to know about Central Florida newspapers' editorial pages?


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Originally Posted by Guest

Apparently the Orlando Sentinel and voters have short memories. When progressive Obama took office in 2008 he did so with a progressive majority in both Houses and America has not recovered yet from the damage they inflicted on its citizens. Just on principle voters should split their vote to ensure the separation of powers stays in play.

Most pundits believe Hillary has the electoral college locked up already. Whether that is a result of the popular vote or a rigged system doesn't matter because no on. will ever be able to prove otherwise. So it means that the the safe bet is to maintain both houses in Republican hands; otherwise Clinton's policies and regulations will only result in the same dismal performance as Obama

Personal Best Regards:

You most conveniently forget that gerrymandering was how the repubs got control of the house of representatives. I guess the electoral college was rigged when 41, 43, reagan and the other repub presidents were elected.