Sen. Chris Murphy hospitalized after suffering a stroke, chief of staff says

Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy has been hospitalized following a stroke. The incident occurred while he was at his son’s hockey game on Saturday, according to his chief of staff, Allison Herwitt. Murphy, 53, initially experienced numbness in his arm, which led to a hospital visit that confirmed the stroke. He has since been transferred to Johns Hopkins for monitoring and is reportedly responding well to treatment.

Herwitt stated that doctors are optimistic about his recovery, noting that Murphy is awake and alert. First elected to Congress in 2006, Murphy has emerged as a prominent voice for gun reform in the US Senate, particularly since the Sandy Hook school shooting in 2022. Some observers speculate that he could be a presidential candidate in 2028 due to his vocal opposition to Donald Trump.

During a 2025 Guardian interview, Murphy was asked about his potential 2028 bid for the White House, responding, "My voice is meaningful because I don’t have any other agenda beyond just trying to save democracy." He emphasized that the current path does not ensure a free and fair election in 2028, urging all efforts to be directed towards preserving democracy.

Murphy recently campaigned for the midterms, visiting states like Michigan and Florida to support candidates in tight races. Connecticut Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz expressed relief at Murphy's well-being, stating, "I am glad to hear that he is doing well, and I look forward to continuing our joint efforts to support the people of Connecticut."