Michael Murphy seeks Munroe’s seat, joins other candidates at Solebury event
Maria Miller hopes to make the world a better place one candidate at a time.
The conservative doyenne, along with her husband Ben, a Bucks County Republican committeeman, hosts salons at her Solebury Township mansion for candidates and others in the political sphere to meet, greet, and speak. While she expected a large gathering on Saturday evening, the weather kept some away. Even so, about 50 people came to sup on salad, pasta, and meatballs while listening to candidates and discussing issues.
Miller runs a foundation, New Hope for Our Nation and the World.
“I’m hoping to unify everyone to save Pennsylvania,” she said.
One of her guests, Warrington Republican Michael Murphy, is running for state representative in the 144th District. Murphy, a nurse, said his daughter, now 33, inspired him to run for office.
“She had a neck injury,” he said. Her doctor prescribed a painkiller and eventually took her off of it. But then she was hooked. She bought Percocet but graduated to heroin and began to spend days at a time on the streets.
Murphy would drive to Kensington or Camden, trying to find her.
About five years ago, he was looking for her in Kensington and stopped at a red light. He happened to glance over and saw her, lying on the sidewalk. He jumped out and scooped her up.
“She said, ‘Dad, I’m ready,’ and I took her to a rehab,” he said. Since then, she “has helped many people [with their addictions]. I would always say to her, ‘I will never give up on you.’ She told me that remembering those words helped get her through.”
“I can do more as a state rep than as a dad,” he said. “It’s not just my daughter. It’s a whole crisis.”
For example, rehabs do not keep addicts in their facilities as long as they need to be cured due to insurance rules, so they tend to relapse after they are released.
Murphy said he is also keen on helping veterans, too many of whom become homeless.
Asked to comment, his prospective opponent, State Representative Brian Munroe (D-144) said, “In 2026, I will be proud to run on my record and my office’s long list of constituent services. Whether it’s defending a woman’s right to choose, supporting our local police as the chair of the Pennsylvania law enforcement caucus, or as a two-time cancer survivor fighting to change the laws that prevent cancer-causing agents in our drinking water, I stand with our community. I work hard for everyone, regardless of party, and look forward to continuing to speak with my constituents about the issues facing them during this campaign.”
Philadelphia Common Pleas Judge Paula Patrick has been on the bench for 23 years and is the supervising judge in the Commerce Program. However, Patrick, a Republican, is exploring a run for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. There will be an opening because Justice Christine Donohue (D), who the voters retained for a ten-year term in November, must step down in 2027 when she turns 75.
Judge Paula Patrick
Perhaps Patrick’s best-known case involved the Christopher Columbus statue that former Mayor Jim Kenney (D) tried to remove. Her decision that Kenney did not have the authority to remove the statue was upheld by the Commonwealth Court.
“It’s interesting when the appellate court came down, they overwhelmingly said Judge Patrick was right,” she said. “Of course, they trashed me in the paper, said ‘Oh, that conservative judge, that Republican judge….’” I didn’t have an interest in Columbus or anyone else, but as a judge, I follow the law.”
Patrick has authored more than 600 decisions during her tenure on the bench.
Jessica Arriaga, who is running against Congressman Brendan Boyle (D-2-Philadelphia), also came to the Millers’ event. Arriaga, a single mother of four, ages eight through 26, said her thirteen-year-old daughter, Bellarose, suggested that she run for Congress because she is always helping people in the community, delivering meals to seniors and veterans. An evangelical Christian, Arriaga prayed to God for guidance before beginning her campaign.
Jessica Arriaga
“I’m a woman with very strong faith,” she said, adding that she preaches “the word of God” on the streets of Kensington.
“For me, this walk is not just about politics,” she explained. “It’s not about power and title. It’s very divinely guided for me. I’m very passionate about this. I’m going to win.”
Arriaga got into politics to support President Donald Trump.
After more than 20 years as a surgical technician, including about five years at St. Mary’s Hospital, she hurt her back and left that career.
Arriaga lives in North Philadelphia and knows the community, she said, noting she also volunteered at a nonprofit mentoring girls.
“North Philadelphia is so bad, it’s unrecognizable,” said Arriaga. “We have the crime. And the schools…. It’s a mess.”
She criticized Boyle for his pro-abortion position and said that he has not passed many bills during his six terms in Congress. Boyle could not immediately be reached for comment.
Editor’s note: This article was updated to correct the length of time Jessica Arriaga worked at St. Mary’s Hospital, to clarify Michael Murphy’s discussion of his daughter, and to correct her age.
Linda Stein is a Philadelphia-area journalist.
