A prominent political couple's personal announcement marks a significant turning point in their shared life of public service and family commitments.
According to Hartford Courant, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy and his wife Catherine Holahan have decided to separate after 20 years together, making their announcement through a joint email to friends on Friday morning.
The couple's journey began at the University of Connecticut law school, where they both earned their law degrees in 2001, leading to their marriage in Litchfield County in August 2007.
Their union was officiated by Ellen Peters, a retired chief justice of the state Supreme Court, during Murphy's tenure in the U.S. Congress while Holahan worked as a child advocacy attorney at Connecticut Legal Services.
In their joint statement to friends, Murphy and Holahan reflected on their shared experiences. They spoke about their career developments, multiple relocations across Connecticut and Washington, and the memories they've created together.
The couple has built impressive careers in public service and law, with Murphy serving three terms in the U.S. House before winning his Senate seat in 2012. He recently secured his third Senate term, defeating Republican Matthew Corey in a rematch of their 2018 race.
Their shared message to friends expressed their feelings about the separation, as stated in their joint statement:
With the election behind us – our seventh together – we have some news we wanted to share with you. After much reflection and discussion, we have decided to separate as a couple. We do so with deep care and respect for each other, and with a focus on continuing to be friends and loving, collaborative parents to our boys whom we adore.
Both Murphy and Holahan come from families with strong legal backgrounds, with their fathers having been partners in Connecticut law firms.
Holahan's mother worked as an office manager for a surgeon, while Murphy's mother pursued a career in teaching.
The couple has two sons, Owen and Rider, now 16 and 13 years old. Their commitment to co-parenting remains steadfast, as evidenced by their joint statement:
We have built two fulfilling, meaningful careers. We have moved from New Haven and Southington to Cheshire and Washington and Hartford. We have shared so many memories and moments with each of you. And, most importantly, we've built a family together. We are so proud of our two boys and the thoughtful, kind young men they are becoming as they move through their teenage years.
U.S. Senator Chris Murphy and Catherine Holahan have announced their separation after a 20-year relationship that began at UConn Law School and included seven successful election campaigns.
The couple made their announcement through a heartfelt email to friends, emphasizing their commitment to maintaining a friendship and collaboratively parenting their teenage sons.
Their decision comes after Murphy's recent reelection to his third term in the U.S. Senate, marking a new chapter in both their personal and professional lives. The couple plans to continue supporting each other while focusing on their shared priority of raising their two sons, Owen and Rider.
