Democrats Land Last-Minute Mica Challenger in Florida
Stephanie Murphy announces her candidacy day before filing deadline

The day before Florida’s Friday filing deadline, business professor Stephanie Murphy announced she’s challenging Rep. John Mica.
Mica’s 7th District has been a desirable target for Democrats, but up until now, they haven’t had a candidate to take on the 12-term Republican since Democrat Bill Phillips suspended his campaign in April.
A Presidential Management Fellowship brought Murphy, a former consultant, to the Defense Department after 9/11 where she worked as a national security specialist.
She moved back to Florida in 2008, where she’s now a business professor at Rollins College. She lives in Winter Park.
“My life’s story is a testament to the American Dream and what can happen when hard work is combined with opportunity. My family and I were Vietnamese refugees, and my parents worked multiple jobs to provide for our family,” Murphy said in a statement announcing her candidacy.
[
New Florida Lines Change Outlook in 5 House Races
]
Mica won re-election in 2014 by more than 30 points, but Democrats are interested in this recently redrawn seat, which Mitt Romney carried by 3 points under the old lines in 2012. The Rothenberg & Gonzales Political Report/Roll Call rates the seat Favored Republican .
Mica ended the first quarter of this year with $640,000 .