Murphy winds his way through Conn.
MIDDLETOWN — U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy passed through Cromwell, Portland, Middletown and Durham on Wednesday, stopping into businesses and talking with residents as part of his fifth “Walk Across Connecticut.”
The junior senator began his walk in Enfield on Monday, and plans to wrap up in Guilford by Friday. The first day was spent mostly walking through rural farmland, and the second brought him through Hartford and other urban areas. He said Wednesday’s walk was the perfect combination of both elements.
“It’s been fun,” Murphy said.
He made an effort to stop and converse with people he passed along the way, including a former supporter of Donald Trump he met outside of an apartment complex near the border of Portland and Middletown. He admitted that this person likely would not have wanted to speak with him in a different setting.
“Those are the conversations you can only really have if I’m out here,” Murphy said. “He probably would be less inclined to come to my office to talk.”
For Murphy, these conversations keep him informed on the issues that matter to the average person, which, he said, often differ from top political issues.
“This walk is always a reminder to me the issues that really matter,” Murphy said.
When the senator talks with people along his route, he finds that most have opinions on the economy, schools, and public safety as opposed to international investigations that might dominate political discussions on television or in Washington, D.C.
“Their concerns have more to do with putting food on the table than with the mainstream ‘hot-button’ issues,” Murphy said.
He’s able to gather honest feedback from constituents, he said, adding that some of the conversations he has along the way don’t involve politics at all.
On the corner of Fountain and Pine avenues, Murphy stopped to talk with Chris Coll, a Wesleyan University student and pitcher for the college’s baseball team. The two spoke primarily about the Boston Red Sox playoff run, and how the return to full in-person learning has been.
“This year feels a little more normal,” Coll said.
Murphy also stopped into several small businesses along the trail, including Newfield Pizza on Route 3. He said the owners, who immigrated from Kosovo, are an example of the majority of small business owners he’s met along his route who are first-generation immigrants.
“You’re constantly reminded how important immigrants are to our local economy,” Murphy said.
All of his stops along Wednesday’s route were impromptu, which, he said, he has come to learn is the best way to get an accurate snapshot of the communities he serves. “I really have learned not to plan stops,” Murphy said.
Last year, Murphy took the year off from his effort, partly due to the pandemic, as well as because he had two surgeries to repair issues with his tibia and fibula. He was still recovering during the summer months, which is when he traditionally conducts the walks. Because of this, and with Congress stalled over the debt ceiling issues, his trek almost didn’t happen this year.
“It ended up working out perfectly, and I’ve been lucky to have beautiful weather every day so far,” Murphy said.
Wednesday’s portion of the walk concluded with the senator walking over 12 miles, and a dinner with a group of Durham parents to hear about how the return to school has been for them.
“I have two kids in public schools, but I want to hear about their experience,” Murphy said.
He said he will most likely return to his home in Hartford to sleep for the night, before continuing south from Durham early Thursday morning.