Murdoch was educated at the Owen Sound Collegiate and Vocational Institute, and worked as a farmer, electrical draftsman, film stripper and salesman.

He ran as a Progressive Conservative for the riding of Grey in the 1987 Ontario election, in which the Liberals under David Peterson won a landslide majority.

[2] The Liberals saw their support base decline during the 1990 election, however, and Murdoch was able to win the seat on his second attempt, defeating the New Democrat, candidate Peggy Hutchinson, by about 2500 votes (Lipsett finished third).

He opposed the Harris government's decision to cancel the province's spring bear hunt and claims that he was fired from a parliamentary assistant position after calling for more free votes in the house.

Though Murdoch's beliefs are far removed from NDP policy, he claimed he was willing to cross the floor because the party deserved a voice in the legislature.

Murdoch stated that although he initially supported the plan, the widespread opposition by his constituents convinced him to reconsider his position.

On April 23, 2009, Progressive Conservative interim leader Bob Runciman announced Murdoch would be returning to the PC caucus effective immediately.

On July 5, 2010, Murdoch announced that he would retire after the 2011 provincial election,[9] which saw the Progressive Conservatives maintain their hold on the Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound riding under first-time MPP Bill Walker.