On Sunday, Senator Chris Murphy (D-Connecticut) argued that Democrats can reclaim voters who supported President Donald Trump by adopting a more aggressive economic agenda, including a proposed federal minimum wage of $25 per hour.
Speaking on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Murphy emphasized that the party should welcome individuals who voted for Trump into its coalition, even if they hold differing views on issues such as gun control, climate change, or abortion.
“We have to accept into the coalition people that may have voted for Donald Trump,” Murphy stated. “We should give them a place in our party.”
Murphy pointed to his recently introduced Living Wage for All Act, which would gradually raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $25, with larger employers required to reach this threshold sooner than smaller businesses and future increases tied to the national median wage.
“In the most affluent, most powerful country in the world, if you work full time, you should be able to pay your bills,” Murphy said.
He argued that the proposal would resonate across the political spectrum. “If you ask Democrats what they think the minimum wage should be, they say about $27. If you ask Republicans and independents, they say about $26. You know why? Twenty-five dollars is just the minimum wage you need to pay your bills in this country.”
Murphy also addressed concerns that raising the minimum wage would eliminate jobs. “There’s plenty of economic analysis to show that if you gradually raise the minimum wage to $25 an hour, you’re going to create more jobs than you’re going to lose,” he said.
The senator noted growing public disillusionment with the current economic system. “I think we have to understand that people do not believe that this version of capitalism has worked. And frankly, it hasn’t worked.” He added that 40% of Americans work full-time but lack sufficient savings for emergency repairs.
When asked whether Democrats should embrace socialism more openly, Murphy replied, “No.” Instead, he advocated for “common good capitalism.”
The Living Wage for All Act, introduced last week, would triple the federal minimum wage—a figure that has remained at $7.25 since 2009. The legislation faces significant opposition in the Republican-controlled Congress, where business groups and Republicans argue such a dramatic increase would raise labor costs, increase consumer prices, and reduce hiring.
