Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) has been discharged from Johns Hopkins Hospital after suffering a small hemorrhagic stroke last week, his office confirmed Friday. Murphy, who will spend several weeks recovering at a rehabilitation center, is expected to miss the first week of Senate votes when lawmakers return from recess next week.
Murphy, 53, announced Friday that doctors treating him for the stroke in the thalamus region of his brain were encouraged by his progress. "The doctors are very encouraged by the progress I’ve made so far," he said in a statement. "In order to take my recovery seriously and get back to work on the quickest timeline possible, I will be spending several weeks at a rehabilitation center after being discharged from the hospital today."
Murphy was rushed to a local hospital after experiencing symptoms at his son’s hockey game last Saturday before being transferred to Johns Hopkins. He had been expected to campaign in New Hampshire alongside Rep. Chris Pappas prior to his hospitalization. In the weeks leading up to the stroke, Murphy had traveled across the country supporting Democratic candidates ahead of the midterm elections and recently returned from a trip to the Middle East.
Dr. Jose Suarez, chief of neurosciences critical care at Johns Hopkins Hospital, told the CT Mirror that Murphy had made significant progress and "at the current rate of improvement, we expect that he will make a full recovery following rehabilitation."
Murphy’s office stated he had called 911 "out of an abundance of caution" after feeling something was not right with his body. "This has been a scary experience for me and my family, and I appreciate the continued respect for our privacy," he said.
As a potential 2028 presidential candidate, Murphy’s absence from the Senate floor during a critical legislative period has drawn attention. His recovery timeline and return to full duties remain uncertain, though medical professionals have expressed optimism about his prognosis.