Murdock was covering the Kansas legislature when he decided to run for a vacancy in the United States House of Representatives and was elected to follow Chester I. Long, who had resigned to take a Senate seat on May 26, 1903.
When Murdock was assigned to cover the Kansas state legislature, he decided to seek a congressional position that became available after Chester I. Long's resignation to take a Senate seat on May 26, 1903, and was subsequently elected to fill the resulting vacancy.