Sen. Chris Murphy Leaves Hospital for Rehabilitation Center
The Connecticut Democrat will miss several Senate votes while recovering from a hemorrhagic stroke diagnosed Oct. 31.
By Marco Alvarez ·
U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) was discharged from Johns Hopkins Hospital on Friday, Nov. 6, following a diagnosis of a small hemorrhagic stroke. Murphy is transitioning to a rehabilitation facility where he plans to recover over the next several weeks. He will remain absent from the Senate floor during this period.
The senator, 53, reported feeling unwell on Oct. 31 and contacted emergency services as a precaution. Medical staff at Johns Hopkins identified a bleed in the brain. Dr. Jose Suarez, chief of neurosciences critical care at the hospital, stated that Murphy has shown tremendous progress. Suarez added that doctors expect a full recovery following the rehabilitation phase.
Murphy’s timeline for return to duty depends on his progress in rehab. He stated that the current setting will allow him to return to work on the quickest possible timeline. He has been communicating with his team and colleagues remotely. His staff is maintaining office operations without interruption.
The stroke occurred during a busy campaign period for Murphy. On Oct. 30, he posted updates from a campaign stop in Connecticut supporting Gov. Ned Lamont. The following day, he reported from Minnesota alongside Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, the Democratic nominee for Senate. Both candidates won their respective races on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Flanagan became the first Native American woman elected to the U.S. Senate.
Prior to the domestic campaign, Murphy traveled to the Middle East in early October to meet with regional leaders, including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. In early September, he completed an annual 70-mile walk across Connecticut to discuss local issues with residents.
Murphy serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee and is a prominent voice on immigration and gun policy. He is viewed as a potential candidate for senior leadership roles within the Senate and for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination.
Three other Democratic senators have suffered strokes in recent years. Sens. Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico and Chris Van Hollen of Maryland recovered from strokes in 2022. Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania suffered a stroke during his 2022 campaign. Fetterman now uses adaptive technology in the Senate, including live captioning devices, to assist with communication.
