In the last four years, U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy has gone from being the underdog in his first bid for Congress to emerging as a potential Senate candidate.
The 31-year-old, who won two elections in a Republican-leaning district, is a member of an endangered species in Florida politics: Democrats with a chance of winning a statewide election.
Murphy is well positioned to run for Sen. Marco Rubio’s seat, especially if the Miami Republican runs for president in 2016; or he could wait until 2018 if Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson retires, analysts and national media outlets say.
Murphy cruised through re-election last year despite a Republican sweep of state and national seats, which included a Senate takeover.
Patrick Murphy’s impressive win could catapult him to Senate bid | Political Fix Florida.