Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy hospitalized after stroke at son's hockey game
The senator, 53, was transferred to Johns Hopkins University Hospital on Saturday and is responding well to treatment, his chief of staff said.
By Nia Foster ·
Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., is in the hospital after suffering a stroke, according to his office. His chief of staff, Allison Herwitt, said on Sunday that the senator is expected to make a full recovery.
Herwitt described the sequence of events in a written statement. She said Murphy began feeling numbness in his arm while attending his son's hockey game on Saturday afternoon. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where medical staff identified a stroke. He was then moved to Johns Hopkins University Hospital for closer monitoring. Herwitt noted that he is responding well to the current course of treatment.
Murphy, 53, has maintained a high profile in the Senate this year. He served as a frequent campaign surrogate for Democratic candidates during the midterm elections. He is also seen as a potential candidate for the 2028 presidential nomination. In that role, he has positioned himself as a leader on foreign policy and a strong advocate for checking executive branch power.
The senator returned recently from a multi-day trip to the Middle East. Following that tour, he issued a warning that President Trump would significantly increase military actions against Iran after the midterm election results were finalized.
Murphy is one of several lawmakers to face serious health issues in 2026. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., was absent from the Senate for months during a hospitalization and rehabilitation period. Rep. Tom Kean, R-N.J., also missed several months in the Capitol while receiving treatment for depression. In 2022, three prominent Democrats, including Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, Sen. Chris Van Hollen, and former candidate John Fetterman, were all hospitalized for strokes.
Source: WYPR
