Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT), 53, is recovering from a stroke, according to his office.
His chief of staff, Allison Herwitt, issued this statement on Sunday afternoon:
(Saturday) afternoon, Senator Murphy started experiencing numbness in his arm while at his son’s hockey game. He was taken to a local hospital, where it was discovered he had experienced a stroke. He was transferred to Johns Hopkins for further monitoring and is responding well to treatment. The doctors are encouraged by his progress, he is awake and alert, and we are optimistic he will make a full recovery.
Politico reports that Murphy’s staff started notifying people Saturday afternoon about the stroke and resulting hospitalization.
Murphy has kept a busy political schedule recently, traveling the country on behalf of Democratic candidates for Senate. His appearances scheduled for Sunday in New Hampshire have been cancelled.
A leading national critic of the Trump administration on foreign policy and other matters, Murphy is serving his third term in the Senate, which expires in Jan. 2031.
Leaders from both parties issued statements of support.
“Thinking of my great friend and colleague, Chris Murphy,” said the state’s senior senator, Richard Blumenthal (D). “I know how fiercely he fights and I’m certain I’ll be welcoming him back to the Senate soon.”
Gov. Ned Lamont (D) tweeted:
There is no stronger advocate for our democracy, and no one who fights harder for the people of this state. Chris is a great friend to Connecticut and to me personally, and Annie and I are keeping him and his family in our prayers. I am sure that he will be walking across the state again very soon, and we will all be cheering him on.
“I am keeping Sen. Murphy and his family in my prayers during this challenging moment and wish him a full and speedy recovery,” said Republican nominee for governor, Ryan Fazio.
“Our thoughts are with Sen. Murphy and his family,” said state Senate minority leader Stephen Harding (R). “We are encouraged to learn that Sen. Murphy is responding well to treatment and making progress. We wish him a swift and full recovery.”
