Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy hospitalized after stroke at hockey game

Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., is currently in the hospital after suffering a stroke. His chief of staff, Allison Herwitt, confirmed the news in a statement released Sunday. She said the senator is expected to make a full recovery.

The incident began on Saturday afternoon. Murphy was watching his son play hockey when he felt numbness in his arm. Staff took him to a local hospital, where doctors identified a stroke. He was then moved to Johns Hopkins Hospital for closer monitoring. Herwitt noted that he is responding well to treatment.

Murphy, 53, has been an active figure in the Democratic Party during the recent midterm cycle. He has served as a campaign surrogate for several candidates. He is also viewed as a potential contender for the 2028 presidential race. In recent months, he has focused on foreign policy and overseeing the executive branch.

The senator recently returned from a tour of the Middle East. During that trip, he warned that President Trump would increase military pressure on Iran after the midterm elections. This health event interrupts his current schedule of public appearances and legislative work.

Murphy joins a list of lawmakers who have faced serious health issues this year. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., missed months of Senate sessions due to a hospital stay and rehabilitation. Rep. Tom Kean, R-N.J., was absent from the Capitol for several months while undergoing treatment for depression.

In 2022, three prominent Democrats were hospitalized for strokes. Those individuals included Sen. Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico, Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, and then-Senate candidate John Fetterman.