Senator Chris Murphy hospitalised after stroke at son's hockey game; office says he is awake and alert
Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy, 53, had a stroke on Saturday two days before the midterms. His office says doctors expect a full recovery.
At a glance
- Connecticut Democrat Chris Murphy, 53, felt numbness in his arm at his son's hockey game on Saturday, October 31, and a local hospital found he had suffered a stroke.
- He was moved to Johns Hopkins for monitoring. His chief of staff says he is awake, alert and responding well, and that a full recovery is expected.
- Murphy is not on Tuesday's ballot but had been campaigning for Democrats nationwide. He was due in New Hampshire on Sunday.
- He is widely seen as a possible 2028 presidential candidate and is known nationally for his gun-control campaigning after the Sandy Hook shooting.
US Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut is in hospital after suffering a stroke on Saturday, his office said on Sunday, November 1, 2026. The 53-year-old Democrat is awake and alert at Johns Hopkins, according to his staff, who say doctors are encouraged and that they expect a full recovery.
The news came two days before the midterm elections, in which Murphy had been one of his party's busiest campaigners even though his own seat is not being contested.
From a hockey rink to Johns Hopkins
The first sign was small. Murphy's chief of staff, Allison Herwitt, said in a statement that he began to feel numbness in his arm on Saturday afternoon while at his son's hockey game. He was taken to a local hospital, where doctors found he had suffered a stroke.
He was then moved to Johns Hopkins "for further monitoring", Herwitt said, and is responding well to treatment. Johns Hopkins Hospital's main campus is in Baltimore, and the system has other sites in and around Washington. The statement did not say which site is treating him.
| What we know | Detail |
|---|---|
| When | Saturday afternoon, October 31, 2026 |
| First symptom | Numbness in one arm |
| Where he was | His son's hockey game |
| Treatment | Local hospital, then Johns Hopkins |
| Condition | Awake and alert, responding to treatment |
| Not yet disclosed | Type of stroke, expected length of hospital stay, any lasting effects |
His office has not said what kind of stroke it was or when he might return to work.
A campaign trail cut short
Murphy had spent recent weeks crisscrossing the country for Democratic candidates, with stops in Michigan, Minnesota and Florida. He was due in New Hampshire on Sunday to campaign with Representative Chris Pappas, the party's Senate candidate there.
Fellow Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal wrote on social media that he was thinking of his "great friend" and was certain he would welcome him back to the Senate soon.
Murphy joined the Senate in 2013 after six years in the House of Representatives. He rose to national attention as a leading voice for tighter gun laws after the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting in his home state. More recently he has been a sharp critic of President Donald Trump, opposing the war in Iran and the administration's deportation policies. He is also a strong fundraiser and is often mentioned as a possible presidential candidate in 2028.
Other senators who have had strokes
Murphy is the latest of several sitting or incoming senators to have a stroke in recent years, and earlier cases show that recovery can vary.
| Senator | State | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Ben Ray Lujan | New Mexico | 2022 |
| Chris Van Hollen | Maryland | 2022 |
| John Fetterman (then a candidate) | Pennsylvania | 2022 |
| Chris Murphy | Connecticut | 2026 |
Fetterman's stroke came days before his state's Democratic primary, when he was still a candidate.
Why arm numbness should never be ignored
Murphy's case began with a symptom that many people might put down to something minor. Health authorities advise calling emergency services straight away for sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body, along with drooping of the face, confused or slurred speech, sudden trouble seeing or walking, or a sudden severe headache. Treatment works best when it starts quickly, so people should note when symptoms began and should not wait to see if they pass.
Murphy's office is expected to give further updates on his condition. Americans vote on Tuesday, November 3, with control of both houses of Congress at stake.
Questions people are asking
What happened to Senator Chris Murphy?
He had a stroke on Saturday, October 31, 2026, after feeling numbness in his arm at his son's hockey game. He was taken to a local hospital and then moved to Johns Hopkins, where his office says he is awake and alert.
Is Chris Murphy up for re-election in the 2026 midterms?
No. Murphy is not on the ballot on November 3, although he had been travelling the country to campaign for other Democratic candidates.
