DELAWARE - Delaware's only congressional seat is up for re-election.
Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester is seeking re-election for a third term, representing the first state since 2016. She was the not only the first woman to represent Delaware in Washington, but also the first person of color.
Murphy, a life-long Delawarean, ran for the congressional seat back in 2018, but lost in the primary to challenger Scott Walker. Murphy says the congresswoman has not done enough in her tenure, and the Delaware wants change.
"We had no candidate to run against Lisa Blunt Rochester. I thought at that time, like I still do, that she was very vulnerable," said Murphy in a recent sit down interview.
Blunt-Rochester says she has been busy the last few years in Congress.
"Delaware has one Congress person. So to be able to work on the farm bill in my first term, and deal with crop insurance and helping our farmers, as well as deal with SNAP and making sure that our SNAP program is efficient, was a real strong positive for me," said Blunt-Rochester during our interview with her. "To be able to have legislation that was signed into law on water quality, a bipartisan piece of legislation, as well as legislation to help with our coastal areas - an idea that came from Delaware, and Delawareans that actually impacted the country has been an honor."
The pandemic caused thousands of Delawareans to lose their jobs. According to the US Department of Labor, the state had an 8.2% unemployment rate in September, the latest report available. Both candidates are focusing on how to bring jobs to the First State, but with different approaches.
Murphy is looking at how to bring back manufacturing jobs, as well as the pharmaceutical industry.
"I've actually spoken to Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas, there is a plan to incentivize businesses, specifically the pharmaceutical industry right now in China, that makes all our life saving drugs. That really poses a national security risk to our country. So there is a plan to incentivize pharmaceutical manufacturing to come back to the United States. And we have to do that in order to attract businesses to come back here. We have to provide incentives, tax incentives, we need to bring those jobs back to the US, and why not bring those jobs back to Delaware?" questioned the republican candidate. Blunt-Rochester, said infrastructure jobs will be a benefit not just to those looking for work, but for the state.
"We see an opportunity is on infrastructure. Infrastructure presents an opportunity to be more energy efficient, so I have a bill called 'Open Back Better' to make our buildings more energy efficient. That creates jobs, it helps the environment, and it also helps our health care. So we need to be looking at those green jobs, as well as creating a strong infrastructure which includes broadband and internet," explained Blunt-Rochester, saying that broadband and internet have become increasingly important during the pandemic for virtual learning and working from home.
The congresswoman is also a founder of the Future of Work caucus.
"I thought it was going to be automation and machine learning and artificial intelligence to push how we live and how we actually work and how we’re trained for jobs in the future and jobs of now," she explained. "But it really has been this pandemic. Number one, what we had to do was addressed the needs of small businesses currently. Whether that’s the PPP program or EIDL loans. Also to look at training dollars that could come to the state, which Delaware actually received money through the CARES Act, and there has been a comprehensive group of players and stakeholders who have come together to help rapidly retrain people for jobs. "
Murphy says he wants to get money to small businesses and those in need financially and directly.
"My opponent supports Nancy Pelosi, and she quite frankly marches to her orders. The current CARES act before Congress right now, which is at a stalemate. The pork, the unnecessary spending has to be removed. We have to get the money, the funds, directly to the people who need help. We don't need to bail out states and cities that have been run by Democrats, mismanaged by Democrats. That should not be part of this funding. We shouldn't be planning to give illegal immigrants stimulus checks. That should not be a part of any of these bills. We need to fund the people in need and get our economy back on track, which it shows great signs of getting back on track right now," said Murphy.
We pressed Murphy about Majority Leader Mitch McConnell advising President Trump not to approve another stimulus program that Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and Speaker Nancy Pelosi were working on. He admitted the House and Senate are playing politics, but that the bill, in his opinion is way too expensive.
"We already have a trillion dollar debt. We need to put into that bill what we need to help businesses and individuals at this time," he said.
Another cause close to Murphy is funding to combat the opioid crisis. His daughter battled addiction her whole adult life before passing, and says he wants to help those who are battling addiction to get better. "President Trump has allocated six billions dollars for this crisis. We need to bring some of those resources here to Delaware. On the front end, prevention, resources need to go there. And on the back end, most importantly, long term care for addicts who are ready to turn their lives around. We need a hospital dedicated for addiction in Delaware," said Murphy. We asked if he favors recovery programs over jail time for those dealing with addiction. "We don't need to send people, addicts, to jail. They, in my opinion, are not criminals. But, if you break a law, you pay a price. We need care, we don't need to criminalize them," he responded.
We asked the congresswoman about her plans to battle the opioid epidemic as well. Blunt-Rochester is a member of the bi-partisan heroin task force, and says it is a priority not just for her, but Congress as a whole.
"It [the task force] is focused on everything from prevention and treatment to introduction. I've been focused also on on legislation to deal with fentanyl. Which has had a devastating impact on individuals in our state. And so Democrats and Republicans in the House, I can say this is an area where there is very strong bipartisanship for investments as well as changes in the law to deal with this scourge."
Another hot topic this election cycle is social justice and police reform. This week, Delaware's Fraternal Order of Police endorsed Murphy over Blunt Rochester.
"I back our law enforcement 100%. I want to see them thrive, and I want them to have the resources that they need to protect our communities, especially the most vulnerable. I personally come from a family that is bi-racial. That doesn't make me an expert in race relations, but I understand that all of us need to really talk to each other," said Murphy. " "Social justice, in my lifetime, is an ongoing, evolving process. I grew up in the 1960s as a teenager. Our country grew by leaps and bounds in terms of social justice, and it has ever since. I think that in 2020, we are in a good place, in terms of social justice. Is it perfect? Do we have room to grow? Are there issues that need to be addressed? Certainly, absolutely. And I think in 50 years it will be evolving. And we need to pay attention to that," he added. Blunt-Rochester, who has been outspoken about the social justice movement, says she "I think on the issue of social justice, we have two different things. We have issues of race and justice that deal with different institutions, everything from our healthcare to our education, and we see it in the outcomes," she explained. "As it pertains to justice in policing, I am a co-sponsor and have worked on the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which is about transparency, accountability, and training. In the words of Kamala Harris, 'bad cops are bad for good cops.' We know that there are many folks in law enforcement that are working with us." She is also advocating to get body cameras for all Delaware law enforcement officers. "I'm fortunate because I have seen this from different perspectives. I am the mother of a black son who has been stopped by law enforcement. But I'm also a person who's worked in state government, when I was our state personnel director, [working] directly with state law enforcement on issues to create strong communities. And so one of the things I am doing here at the local level is working with stakeholders on ensuring that every law enforcement officer in the state has a body camera. We would be the first state in the nation, that every law enforcement [officer] would have a body camera," she said.
With just a week until the election, both Lee Murphy and Lisa Blunt Rochester are hoping to win your vote, if you have yet to cast your ballot.
"We had a saying from the very beginning of this campaign, when 'Lisa goes to Washington, we all go to Washington. When I step onto the floor, I bring Sussex, I bring Kent, I bring New Castle, I bring Wilmington, every part of this state, because it is my belief that like the African proverb, sticks in a bundle are unbreakable. We are at our strongest when we are together," said Blunt-Rochester.
"I will be responsive, I will work for the people of Delaware, regardless of party. I want to make our state better, I'm helping to raise two beautiful grandkids, I want to make the state better for them. I want them to have an economy that when they graduate from college they can work here. I think it really boils down to someone who is going to work hard for Delaware," said Murphy.
For more on Lisa Blunt-Rochester's campaign, click here.
For more on Lee Murphy's campaign, click here.
Election Day is November 3. Polls close at 8am in Delaware.
