Murphy Stroke

Sen. Chris Murphy was hospitalized Saturday after suffering a stroke, his chief of staff said Sunday.

Murphy felt numbness in his arm while watching his son play hockey. The 53-year-old Connecticut Democrat was taken to a local hospital, which found he'd suffered a stroke, chief of staff Allison Herwitt said in a statement reported by ABC News and NBC News. He was then moved to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore for further monitoring.

"The doctors are encouraged by his progress, he is awake and alert, and we are optimistic he will make a full recovery," Herwitt said.

No other details on Murphy's condition were released.

For weeks, Murphy has campaigned for Democrats ahead of Tuesday's midterm elections. Sunday, he'd been set to appear in New Hampshire with Senate candidate Chris Pappas, according to the New Hampshire Democratic Party, NBC News reported. He'd also traveled recently to Michigan and Florida for competitive races, according to the Guardian.

First elected to Congress in 2006, Murphy is now in his third Senate term and has built a national profile on gun reform and foreign policy oversight. Some Democratic officials view him as a possible 2028 presidential contender, NPR reported. He recently returned from a trip to the Middle East. Afterward, he warned that President Trump could escalate conflict with Iran once the midterms were over, NPR reported. At a Washington event last Thursday, Murphy called the idea of resuming war with Iran "insane," according to NBC News.

Murphy is the latest in a string of lawmakers to face a health crisis this year, NPR noted. Sen. Mitch McConnell had a lengthy hospital stay. Rep. Tom Kean was absent from the Capitol for depression treatment. And in 2022, Democrats Ben Ray Lujan, Chris Van Hollen and John Fetterman were each hospitalized for strokes, according to NPR.

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont posted on social media that he and his wife, Annie, were keeping Murphy and his family "in our prayers," ABC News reported. "There is no stronger advocate for our democracy," Lamont said, adding that he expects Murphy "will be walking across the state again very soon."

Friday evening, Connecticut Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz had been with Murphy as he encouraged voters ahead of the election, the Guardian reported.

"I am glad to hear that he is doing well," she said.