US Senator Chris Murphy has suffered a stroke but is “awake and alert” and responding well to treatment, his chief of staff has said.
The Connecticut Democrat remained in hospital on Sunday after seeking medical attention for numbness in his arm the previous day. Allison Herwitt said doctors were encouraged by his progress and were optimistic he would make a full recovery.
“The doctors are encouraged by his progress, he is awake and alert, and we are optimistic he will make a full recovery,” Ms Herwitt said in a statement.
Mr Murphy is not standing for re-election in Tuesday’s midterm elections, which will determine control of Congress. He is nevertheless regarded as a potential Democratic presidential candidate in 2028.
A senator from Connecticut for 20 years, Mr Murphy is a senior Democrat on the powerful appropriations and foreign relations committees.
He has been a fierce critic of President Donald Trump and of the war involving Iran. Mr Murphy has pledged that Democrats would withhold funding for the conflict if they take control of the Senate.
During a Middle East tour in October, he said the US Defence Department had denied him access to a military base in Qatar. He has also promised to investigate Mr Trump and his family over alleged corruption if Democrats win the Senate.
Mr Trump said he was “really surprised” to learn of Mr Murphy’s stroke, adding: “Nobody wants to have that”.
