A leading Democratic senator was hospitalized after suffering a stroke Saturday, according to his office.
Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy, 53, began experiencing numbness in his arm Saturday afternoon while attending his son’s hockey game, Chief of Staff Allison Herwitt said. He was taken to a local hospital, where doctors determined that the Connecticut senator had suffered a stroke.
Murphy was subsequently transferred to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore for additional monitoring and treatment. Herwitt said Murphy remained awake and alert Sunday and was responding well to treatment following the medical emergency.
“The doctors are encouraged by his progress, he is awake and alert, and we are optimistic he will make a full recovery.” Murphy’s office has not publicly disclosed what type of stroke he suffered or provided additional details about his medical condition.
The medical emergency came just days before Tuesday’s midterm elections, although Murphy himself is not up for reelection this year. Murphy has nevertheless maintained an active campaign schedule supporting Democratic candidates around the country during the closing weeks of the midterm campaign.
His recent travels included appearances supporting Democrats in competitive races in North Carolina, Florida, Michigan and Minnesota. Murphy had also been scheduled to campaign Sunday in New Hampshire before news of his hospitalization became public.
That appearance was expected to include Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas, who is running for Senate, and House candidate Stefany Shaheen.
