Stephanie Murphy facts for kids

This page is about the business consultant and politician. For the veterinary-scientist, see Stephanie J. Murphy.

Quick facts for kids Stephanie Murphy
Official portrait, 2017

Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 7th district
In office January 3, 2017 – January 3, 2023
Preceded by	John Mica
Succeeded by	Cory Mills

Personal details
Born	Đặng Thị Ngọc Dung (1978-09-16) September 16, 1978 (age 46) Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Political party	Democratic (2016–present)
Other political affiliations	Independent (before 2016)
Spouse	Sean Murphy
Children	2
Education	College of William and Mary (BA) Georgetown University (MS)

Stephanie Murphy (born September 16, 1978) is an American politician and businesswoman. She used to be a teacher and a national security expert. From 2017 to 2023, she served as a U.S. Representative for Florida's 7th congressional district.

As a member of the Democratic Party, she won against John Mica in 2016. He had been in office for 12 terms. Her district covered parts of Orlando, and all of Winter Park, Maitland, Sanford, and Altamonte Springs.

Murphy was born in 1978 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Her family left Vietnam in 1979. She grew up in Northern Virginia. She went to the College of William & Mary and Georgetown University. Before becoming a Congress member, she worked for the United States Department of Defense. She was also an executive at Sungate Capital and a business professor at Rollins College.

Stephanie Murphy was the first Vietnamese-American woman to be elected to Congress. She was also the first Vietnamese-American Democrat to do so. She decided not to run for re-election in 2022. In July 2025, Murphy announced she is running for mayor of Orange County in Florida.

Early Life and Education

Stephanie Murphy was born on September 16, 1978, in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Her family left Vietnam in 1979 when she was just six months old. They fled because of the Communist government. Their boat ran out of fuel, but the United States Navy rescued them at sea. They then settled in Northern Virginia, where she grew up.

Murphy used Pell Grants and student loans to help pay for college. She attended the College of William & Mary. There, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics. Later, she went to Georgetown University. She received a Master of Science in Foreign Service degree from Georgetown.

Before Congress: Her Career

After the September 11 attacks, Murphy started working for the United States Department of Defense. She was a national security specialist. For her work, she received a special award called the Secretary of Defense Exceptional Civilian Service Award.

Later, she worked as an executive at Sungate Capital in Winter Park, Florida. She also taught business as a professor at Rollins College. In 2013, a company named 3N2 hired Murphy. She led a team to design new softball pants for women. She is even listed as an inventor for these "NuFit Knickers."

Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives

How She Was Elected

2016 Election

Stephanie Murphy decided to run for the United States House of Representatives in 2016. She ran for Florida's 7th congressional district. Her opponent was John Mica, a Republican who had been in office for 12 terms.

She received support from important leaders like President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden. On November 8, 2016, Murphy won the election with 51% of the votes. She became the second Vietnamese-American person elected to the United States Congress. She was also the first Vietnamese-American woman to achieve this.

2018 Election

Political experts said that Murphy had a tough job representing a district that was split between Democrats and Republicans. The Orlando Sentinel newspaper noted that her re-election race would be very challenging.

Despite this, Murphy won her re-election. She defeated Republican Mike Miller with 57.6% of the votes.

2020 Election

Murphy was re-elected again in 2020. She received 55.34% of the votes. She won against Republican Leo Valentín.

Her Time in Office

Murphy officially started her term on January 3, 2017. She joined a group of moderate Democrats called the Blue Dog Coalition. In December 2018, she became one of the co-chairs for this group.

When Democrats gained more seats in the House in 2018, Murphy was appointed to the important Ways and Means Committee. This committee handles tax and trade laws.

In December 2021, Murphy announced on Twitter that she would not seek re-election for a fourth term. She explained that serving Central Florida was an honor, but it was also very difficult for her family.

Investigating the January 6 Attack

On July 1, 2021, Speaker Nancy Pelosi chose Murphy to be on the United States House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack. This committee was formed to investigate the attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Murphy stated that her goal was to find the truth about what happened. She wanted to make sure such an event would never happen again. She promised to follow the facts without bias.

On July 12, 2022, Murphy helped lead the committee's seventh public hearing. She explained that the hearing would show how the White House and some members of Congress worked together regarding January 6. The hearing also looked at the role of extremist groups like the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers.

The committee discussed how a tweet from Donald Trump on December 19, 2020, encouraged his supporters. An anonymous Twitter employee told the committee that the tweet acted as "a call to action" for Trump's supporters.

In her closing statement, Murphy said the committee's main goal was to fight false information with facts. She emphasized telling the truth to the American people and for historical records. She believed defending democracy was the most patriotic thing to do.

Committees and Groups She Joined

Committee on Ways and Means
- Subcommittee on Trade
- Subcommittee on Worker and Family Support
Committee on Armed Services
- Subcommittee on Intelligence & Special Operations, Vice Chair
- Subcommittee on Tactical Air & Land Forces
Select Committee on the January 6 Attack

Caucus Memberships

Blue Dog Coalition
New Democrat Coalition
Problem Solvers Caucus
Climate Solutions Caucus
LGBT Equality Caucus
Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus
Future Forum

Leadership Roles

In the 117th Congress:
- Chief Deputy Whip
- Blue Dog Coalition, Communications Co-Chair
- Future Forum, Chair Emeritus
In the 116th Congress:
- Blue Dog Coalition, Administration Co-Chair
- Future Forum, Chair

After Congress

On July 9, 2025, Stephanie Murphy announced that she is running for mayor of Orange County, Florida. She is one of several candidates in the race.

Her Political Views

Economy and COVID-19 Relief

Murphy believes in capitalism, which is an economic system where businesses are mostly owned by private individuals. She supports a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. constitution. This would stop the government from spending more money than it collects in taxes each year. She thinks that growing government debt is a big threat to the economy and national security.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Murphy supported efforts to help businesses. She introduced a bill to make it easier for small businesses to get low-interest loans. This bill passed in the House. She also helped pass a law that ensures small businesses get a fair share of government contracts.

Immigration

Murphy supports making big changes to the immigration system. She wants a system that is "consistent with American values." She believes that undocumented immigrants should have a way to become legal residents. She also wants to change the visa system to help with economic growth. To show her support, she wore an "I Am An Immigrant" t-shirt and shared a message online.

Murphy was one of 24 House Democrats who voted for Kate's Law. This law increases penalties for people who re-enter the U.S. after being deported. She also opposed a travel ban that limited entry from certain countries. She said the ban went against American values and hurt national security.

Gun Policy

Murphy decided to run for office after the Orlando nightclub shooting. The politician in office at the time accepted money from a gun rights group shortly after the shooting. Murphy won her election with support from groups that want stronger gun laws.

She supports universal background checks for gun purchases. She also believes people on the No Fly List should not be able to buy firearms. Murphy has said that the Second Amendment rights of gun owners should be protected. However, she also believes in passing "commonsense gun laws" to keep communities safe.

In 2017, Murphy introduced the "Gun Violence Research Act." This bill aimed to remove a federal ban on using government money for gun violence research. She called the ban "un-American." After the 2018 Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, more politicians supported her bill. It eventually passed as part of a budget bill. The first grants for these studies were given out in October 2020.

Donald Trump Impeachments

On December 18, 2019, Murphy voted to impeach President Trump. This means she voted that he should be charged with serious offenses.

On January 7, 2021, Murphy called for Trump to be removed from office after the Capitol attack. She voted for his second impeachment on January 13, 2021.

National Security

After the attack on the Capitol, Murphy suggested that people who believe in QAnon should not be allowed to have security clearances.

In December 2020, Murphy wrote that climate change is a "national security threat and economic opportunity" for Florida.

Police Reform

Murphy supported the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. This bill aimed to make big changes to policing. It would limit legal protections for police officers, ban chokeholds, and create a national list of police misconduct. It would also give the Department of Justice more power to investigate police departments.

Murphy also wrote a statement from the Blue Dog Caucus. This statement called for "swift and systematic change" in policing. It asked Republicans to join them in working on police reform.

Trade

Murphy sees herself as a Democrat who supports trade. She believes that trading goods and services is very important for America's economy and security. She thinks that measures to limit trade often hurt the country more than they help. She supports a trading system with clear rules. These rules should help U.S. companies compete fairly. They should not have to compete with foreign companies that treat workers badly, pollute the environment, or steal ideas.

In February 2022, Murphy was the only House Democrat to vote against the America COMPETES Act of 2022. This bill focused on encouraging American science and technology. Murphy said that while she liked many parts of the bill, the trade section was problematic. She felt it limited trade more than it helped it. She believes expanded trade helps more American workers and lowers prices for consumers.

Personal Life

Stephanie Murphy is married to Sean Murphy. They have two children together. She is a Protestant Christian.