U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy hospitalized after having a stroke

U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy answers a question from host John Dankosky during Connecticut Mirror’s “In the Room” series at Connecticut Public Broadcasting in Hartford on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026.

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U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., was hospitalized after experiencing a stroke, his office confirmed on Sunday.

Murphy, 53, experienced symptoms on Saturday while attending his son’s hockey game and was taken to a hospital. He was later transferred to another hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.

“Yesterday afternoon, Sen. Murphy started experiencing numbness in his arm while at his son’s hockey game,” Murphy chief of staff Allison Herwitt said in a statement on Sunday.

“He was taken to a local hospital, where it was discovered he had experienced a stroke,” she said. “He was transferred to Johns Hopkins for further monitoring and is responding well to treatment. The doctors are encouraged by his progress, he is awake and alert, and we are optimistic he will make a full recovery.”

Murphy, who is not on Tuesday’s ballot, has been campaigning the past several weeks in Connecticut and a handful of swing states on behalf of Democratic candidates competing in the midterm elections. He was supposed to be in New Hampshire on Sunday to campaign with U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas, who’s running for Senate.

Gov. Ned Lamont and Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz offered their support in a prepared statement.

“Just two days ago, I was with Sen. Chris Murphy doing what he loves most: encouraging Connecticut residents to make their voices heard and vote on Tuesday,” Lamont said. “There is no stronger advocate for our democracy and no one who fights harder for the people of this state. Chris is a great friend to Connecticut and to me personally, and Annie and I are keeping him and his family in our prayers. I am sure that he will be walking across the state again very soon, and we will all be cheering him on.”

“I was with Sen. Murphy on Friday evening, where he was energetically encouraging voters to participate in the upcoming election,” Bysiewicz said. “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. We are all wishing Chris a speedy recovery and keeping him in our thoughts and prayers.”

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal also issued a brief statement.

“Thinking of my great friend and colleague Chris Murphy. I know how fiercely he fights, and I’m certain I’ll be welcoming him back to the Senate soon,” Blumenthal said.

“My thoughts are with Sen. Murphy and his family today,” said Attorney General William Tong. “He is the toughest fighter I know — for Connecticut and for our country — and I have no doubt he’s going to fight through this challenge now. We need him back on the front lines for all of us.”