Super PAC Forms In Support of Chris Murphy In U.S. Senate Race

A new Super PAC has formed in Connecticut to support Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Chris Murphy and counter what it says is Republican Linda McMahon’s efforts to “buy herself a seat.”

Chris VanDeHoef, a state Capitol lobbyist from Bloomfield, announced formation of the PAC — called Connecticut’s Future PAC — in a statement released Monday.

VanDeHoef is the new Super PAC’s chairman. He said the group filed its formation paperwork with the Federal Election Commission earlier this month.

“There is real concern in Connecticut, that if gone unchecked, Linda McMahon will buy herself a seat in the United States Senate. CFP is dedicated to making sure Connecticut is represented by someone who understands the struggles of the working men and women in this state and will fight for them in Washington DC,” VanDeHoef said in the statement.

McMahon spent $50 million of her own money in her unsuccessful campaign for U.S. Senate in 2010.

Under federal election rules, independent expenditure committees, also known as “Super PACs,” are groups that can take unlimited amounts of donations and can spend that money to support or oppose candidates or political causes. Such groups cannot directly coordinate their efforts with a candidate or a candidate’s campaign. But, unlike candidates, Super PACs can accept contributions from corporations and unions.

Connecticut’s Future PAC has promised that it will disclose who donates money to the group and also how that money is spent.

The McMahon camp was critical of the SuperPAC’s formation on Monday.

“This is not surprising from a professional politician like Chris Murphy,” said McMahon spokesman Tim Murtaugh. “This has been set up so he can take money from special interests and lobbyists. It’s pretty obvious that the good-ol’-boy network will do whatever they can to protect one of their own.”

Murtaugh declined to comment on the PAC’s contention that McMahon is trying to “buy herself a seat.”

The PAC president is Kevin Graff of Glastonbury, the former chief of staff for the Senate Democrats. The treasurer is state Rep. Joseph Taborsak of Danbury. Jeffrey B. Garfield, former executive director of the State Elections Enforcement Commission, is assistant treasurer and Connecticut counsel. Garfield retired from his elections post in 2009.

VanDeHoef, a lobbyist with the TCORS Capitol Group, is also executive director of the Connecticut Daily Newspapers Association, which represents 17 daily newspapers in the state including The Courant, the Connecticut Post and the New Haven Register.

Murphy, the convention-endorsed Democratic candidate, faces former Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz in a party primary Aug. 14.That same day McMahon will face former U.S. Rep. Christopher Shays in a Republican primary. McMahon also won her party’s convention endorsement in mid-May.