WASHINGTON — Goodbye, Connecticut, at least for now.
Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut caught attention over the weekend as he was spotted in California, sharing a moment with talk show host Jimmy Kimmel and participating in “No Kings” protests. This came just a day after the Senate adjourned for recess, leaving unresolved issues like chaotic airport security lines caused by a partial government shutdown.
Murphy shared a snapshot on social media, featuring himself with Kimmel at an anti-President Trump rally held in Torrance, California — a significant distance from his constituency in Connecticut.
“Look who I ran into at the No Kings rally in Torrance, California,” Murphy shared on X, capturing his encounter with the late-night television star.
He further expressed his involvement on X, stating, “In LA this weekend and joined the South Bay No Kings rally. HUGE turnout!” highlighting the impressive participation at the event.
The senator, who has been whispered about as a potential contender for the 2028 presidential race, also publicized a conversation he engaged in with Californians advocating for increased taxation on billionaires.
Notably, the California Billionaire Tax Act, a proposed ballot initiative, has drawn opposition from Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), another pol who has drawn 2028 presidential buzz.
The proposal calls for a one-time 5% wealth tax on Californians with net worths over $1.1 billion.
That tax would be retroactive for Golden State residents who lived in the state as of Jan. 1 this year. California had about 246 billionaires living in the state, per Forbes. Already, several top billionaires have fled the state amid fears that they could face that tax.
“In Los Angeles today I rallied with the health care workers who are supporting California’s billionaire tax ballot initiative,” Murphy posted on X.
“There is no way to repair the damage Trump has done to our health care system without asking the super wealthy to pay their fair share.”
Murphy has carefully worked to burnish his progressive record during Trump’s second term in office, having split with Democratic leadership in the Senate for cutting a deal to avert a government shutdown with Republicans in March 2025.
He also publicly lamented the deal cut last fall to end the 43-day government shutdown.
Given his rising profile in progressive circles, netizens quickly seized on Murphy’s unexplained visit to California and trolled him online.
“Why is a senator from Connecticut hanging out in Torrance, California?” conservative pundit Stephen Miller chided on X.
“Why is a senator from Connecticut at a protest in LA and not like Hartford or New Haven,” another X user wrote.
“This one writes itself,” actor Dean Cain jabbed.
“I love how he goes across the country to California instead of up the road in Connecticut which he (allegedly) represents,” user “AOC Parody” griped.
Not all of the reactions were negative. Murphy did get some love from progressive users, with lefty pundit Joanne Carducci writing, “Two of my favorite heroes!”
The Post contacted Murphy’s office for comment about why he was in California.
The Senate had adjourned for recess early Friday after passing a deal to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security and end the shutdown that began on Feb. 14.
House Republicans rejected that deal because it lacked funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection.
