NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — On Wednesday evening, two candidates running in the 2024 U.S. Senate election in Connecticut will meet on the debate stage.
The debate between incumbent Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy and Republican candidate Matt Corey will begin at 7 p.m. in News 8’s New Haven studio. Watch it live on News 8 and WTNH.com.
News 8’s Dennis House and Kathryn Hauser will moderate the debate.
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News 8 recently caught up with Murphy and Corey. Both candidates told News 8 they were looking forward to the debate.
“It’s an opportunity for the state to see the differences between the two candidates and the presidential candidate that the two senate candidates support,” Murphy said. “So, I’m looking forward to it.”
“I’m looking forward to the debate,” Corey said. “I want to come up with my ideas, and hopefully Connecticut will look and say, ‘Hey, this is a fresh face we need in Washington that’s going to make my life better, my life safer, and bring peace around the world.’ Peace and prosperity is what we need.”
This year’s election marks the second time Murphy and Corey have appeared opposite each other on the ballot. Corey was also the Republican U.S. Senate candidate in 2018 when Murphy prevailed by 20 points to win a second term.
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Murphy, 51, has served in elected office in Connecticut for 25 years. He was first elected to the state legislature in 1998 at age 25. He rose rapidly through the political ranks, serving in the State Senate and U.S. House before winning election to the Senate in 2012.
His election to the Senate coincided with the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown. Murphy has since taken up the cause of gun control, leading the passage of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act in 2022. Murphy has also become a key Democratic voice in the foreign policy arena. He chairs a key Senate subcommittee dealing with Middle East and counterterrorism policy.
Corey, 60, is a lifelong Manchester resident. He is a Navy veteran and has operated multiple small businesses, including a window-washing company and two bars. He frequently cites his experience as a small business owner and veteran in his campaign against Murphy.
In addition to his runs for the U.S. Senate this year and in 2018, Corey has also been a Republican candidate for the Connecticut State Senate and U.S. House.
