Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy hospitalized after stroke

Sen. Chris Murphy is receiving treatment for a stroke at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. The Connecticut Democrat is currently awake and alert, according to his office.

Murphy, 53, began experiencing numbness in his arm on Saturday while attending a hockey game for his son. He was taken to a local hospital where medical staff identified the stroke. He was subsequently transferred to Johns Hopkins for further monitoring. Doctors report that he is responding well to treatment and are encouraged by his progress.

Allison Herwitt, Murphy's chief of staff, confirmed the details in a statement on Sunday. She said the senator is in a stable condition and the team is optimistic about a full recovery.

Murphy first won a seat in the House of Representatives in 2006 and moved to the Senate in 2012. He is not on the ballot for the election taking place Tuesday. In the upper chamber, he serves on the Appropriations Committee and is a prominent figure on immigration and gun policy. He is also viewed as a potential candidate for senior Senate leadership roles or the 2028 presidential race.

Several colleagues have offered support. Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, who suffered a stroke in 2022, said his family is rooting for Murphy and his family for a full and speedy recovery. Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Murphy's colleague in the Senate, wrote that he knows how fiercely Murphy fights and expects to welcome him back soon.

Republican Sens. Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Pete Ricketts of Nebraska also offered prayers. President Donald Trump said he was really surprised to learn of the stroke, adding that nobody wants to have that.

The hospitalization comes as Murphy has been traveling the country to support Democratic candidates for House and Senate seats. He was in his home state on Friday supporting Gov. Ned Lamont. Last week, he was in Minnesota with Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, the Democratic nominee for the Senate. Before the campaign season, he completed a 70-mile walk across Connecticut in early September and met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during a Middle East trip in October.