Democrat Senator Taken to Hospital For Brain Surgery After Suffering a Stroke
Carmine Sabia Carmine Sabia February 2, 2022
New Mexico Democrat Sen. Ben Ray Lujan has suffered a stroke and had to undergo brain surgery.
While all thoughts and prayer should be for his full and speedy recovery, there are some politics at play here as well.
President Joe Biden needs a minimum of 50 Senators to vote for his Supreme Court pick with Vice President Kamala Harris serving as the tiebreaker.
“He is currently being cared for at UNM Hospital, resting comfortably, and expected to make a full recovery,” his chief of staff Carlos Sanchez said. “The senator’s offices remain open and will continue providing constituent services to all New Mexicans without any interruption. The senator and his family would like to thank the wonderful doctors and staff at both UNM Hospital and Christus St. Vincent Regional Hospital for their excellent care during this time. Senator Luján looks forward to getting back to work for the people of New Mexico. At this time, he and his family would appreciate their privacy, and ask for your continued prayers and well wishes.”
The New York Times reported:
Several Democrats said on Tuesday that they were relieved that Mr. Luján would recover, but declined to comment on the political implications of Mr. Luján’s stroke, telling reporters they were concerned primarily about his health and were still processing the news.
“It’s hard to evaluate what it means for here,” said Senator Bob Casey, Democrat of Pennsylvania. “On the human level, it’s scary. It just reminds all of us how good health is something we hope to be blessed by.”
Mr. Luján joined the Senate last year, taking the open seat of the retiring Senator Tom Udall after a dozen years in the House, where he had been seen as an eventual potential replacement for Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
In his first year in the Senate, Mr. Luján introduced a version of the Native American Voting Rights Act, a bill that aims to ease barriers to voting access for Native Americans, a key constituency in his state.
Senate Majority Leader and New York Sen. Charles Schumer was one of the first to respond.
“My thoughts are with Senator Ben Ray Luján and his family. I’m so glad to hear that he will make a full recovery. We look forward to his quick return to the Senate,” he said.
My thoughts are with Senator Ben Ray Luján and his family. I’m so glad to hear that he will make a full recovery. We look forward to his quick return to the Senate. https://t.co/vDSXG6JF72
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) February 1, 2022
CNN reporter Morgan Rimmer noted the first, of what could be many issues for Democrats in his absence.
“Cantwell, chair of Senate Commerce, says that committee votes on the FCC and FTC nominees will ‘have to wait until Senator Luján gets back,’ underscoring again how difficult it is to balance a 50/50 Senate, down to the committee level,” the reporter said.
Cantwell, chair of Senate Commerce, says that committee votes on the FCC and FTC nominees will “have to wait until Senator Luján gets back,” underscoring again how difficult it is to balance a 50/50 Senate, down to the committee level
— Morgan Rimmer (@morgan_rimmer) February 2, 2022
https://conservativebrief.com/nominee-59127/