Democratic US Senator Chris Murphy has been hospitalized after suffering a stroke.
Murphy, 53, began feeling numbness in his arm while attending his son’s hockey game Saturday, according to the Connecticut senator’s chief of staff, Allison Herwitt. A hospital visit confirmed that Murphy had suffered a stroke.
He has since been transferred to Johns Hopkins for monitoring and is responding well to treatment so far, Herwitt wrote in a statement.
“Doctors are encouraged by his progress, he is awake and alert, and we are optimistic that he will make a full recovery,” Herwitt’s statement said.
First elected to Congress in 2006, Murphy has become a prominent figure in the U.S. Senate, where he has distinguished himself as one of the most prominent voices for gun reform since the 2021 Sandy Hook school shooting.2 Some observers view him as a possible 2028 presidential candidate, citing his outspoken opposition to Donald Trump.
When asked in a Guardian interview in 2025 if he would consider a run for the White House in 2028, Murphy said: “My voice is significant because I have no agenda other than trying to save democracy. Anyone thinking about elections in 2028 or 2026 would be foolish. We are not currently on the path to free and fair elections in 2028, so we all had better devote all our energy to trying to save democracy.”
Murphy had spent the past few weeks campaigning for the midterm elections, traveling to support candidates in competitive races in states like Michigan and Florida.
“I was with Senator Murphy Friday evening, where he vigorously encouraged voters to participate in the upcoming election,” Connecticut Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz said in a statement. I am happy to hear that he is doing well and look forward to continuing our joint efforts to support the people of Connecticut.
David Smith contributed reporting.
Gn headline
