Today, at the Washington Democratic Party’s bi-annual convention, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) accepted her nomination to be the official Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in 2022. Upon receiving the official nomination from the Washington state Democratic Party, Murray delivered a keynote address outlining her top priorities, the stakes in this election, and the clear differences between herself and her Republican opponent.
Murray discussed many of her ongoing legislative efforts, like lowering everyday costs for prescription drugs and child care, investments to strengthen supply chains and American manufacturing, and a landmark investment in climate action and clean energy to help lower energy costs–all paid for by ensuring giant corporations and the very wealthiest simply pay their fair share.
“I am fighting for a future built for everyone—by everyone,” said Murray during her speech. “Middle-class tax cuts—not tax breaks for giant corporations. Investing in our kids and schools—not banning books or bullying trans kids. Affordable health care for everyone—not repealing the ACA. Lower prescription drug costs— not defunding Medicare. Lower everyday costs for the basics like child care—not higher taxes for seniors and retirees.”
Murray, a longtime Congressional leader in the fight to protect abortion rights, also highlighted her commitment to fight and protect a woman’s right to make her own health care decisions and drew a contrast against her Republican opponent who praised the overturning of Roe v. Wade and previously endorsed a Texas-style abortion ban. Murray once again urged voters to cast their ballots for a pro-choice majority in the Senate and House to help pass Murray’s Women’s Health Protection Act to protect the right to abortion at the federal level.
“We need 52 Democratic Senators and a Democratic House to get my bill to protect abortion rights to President Biden’s desk,” said Murray at the start of her speech. “The alternative—letting today’s extreme GOP gain more power, take away more individual Americans’ rights, and weaken our democracy further—is unacceptable… We are going to stand up and fight back with our voices and our votes—to protect the right of every woman to make her own health care decisions.”
Murray also laid out in stark terms the threat of disinformation and the increasingly anti-democratic posture of the Republican Party. In particular, Murray called attention to how Republicans like her opponent continued to help propagate Donald Trump’s deeply dangerous lie that the 2020 election was stolen from him.
“One of the top issues my opponent is campaigning on—that she thinks is a top priority for Washington state voters–is her having ‘serious questions’ about the 2020 election,” said Murray. “It’s right there on her website. Here’s the thing. If you can’t stand up for American democracy—what on earth are you going to stand for as a U.S. Senator? And standing up for Donald Trump, Mitch McConnell, MAGA Republicans—or all of the above—is not an acceptable answer.”
During her speech, Murray also outlined policy priorities she would keep fighting for: passing her PRO Act to strengthen workers’ rights, paid family and medical leave–something Murray has been working toward since she was first elected, further steps to achieve universal coverage and lower health care costs, a major federal investment in housing and to end homelessness, a fair pathway to citizenship, and strong federal voting rights and anti-gerrymandering laws to protect our democracy.
Original source can be found here.
