Chris Murphy to Miss Senate Votes After Stroke Recovery

1 min read

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) will miss several weeks of Senate votes while undergoing rehabilitation after a stroke, according to his office. The Connecticut Democrat was discharged from Johns Hopkins Hospital on Friday, nearly a week after experiencing arm numbness during his son’s hockey game. Doctors identified bleeding in his thalamus, leading to a small hemorrhagic stroke.

Murphy, 53, called 911 after realizing something was wrong. His office first disclosed the stroke on November 1, when chief of staff Allison Herwitt stated he had been taken to a local hospital before being transferred to Johns Hopkins for additional monitoring. At that time, Murphy was conscious, alert, and responding to treatment.

“In order to take my recovery seriously and get back to work on the quickest timeline possible, I will be spending several weeks at a rehabilitation center after being discharged from the hospital today,” Murphy said in a statement. Dr. Jose Suarez, chief of neurosciences critical care at Johns Hopkins, described Murphy’s condition as a small hemorrhagic stroke.

Murphy’s absence will leave Democrats with one fewer senator available for votes during the post-election session. Republicans currently hold 53 seats, while Democrats and the two independents who caucus with them hold 47. This could affect closely divided votes on nominations and other matters requiring a simple majority. His absence does not change the usual 60-vote requirement to overcome a legislative filibuster.

Murphy has not announced a date for returning to the Capitol. “The doctors are very encouraged by the progress I’ve made so far,” he said. His recovery plan focuses on rehabilitation to regain full functionality and return to his duties as a senator.

Source: Breitbart

Written by

Connor Davis