Congress is already on egg shells. Now it’s going to get worse.
Because a U.S. Senator just suffered a life-threatening injury and was rushed to the hospital.
Senator Kevin Cramer of North Dakota Injured in Fall, Recovering After Severe Concussion
Republican U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer from North Dakota suffered a brain injury on Sunday afternoon after slipping on ice in the backyard of his home. The 64-year-old senator was hospitalized and diagnosed with a “severe concussion, a seizure, and a slight brain bleed,” according to a statement he posted on Facebook Monday evening.
Cramer detailed the incident in his post, explaining that he had been walking to his backyard to retrieve a piece of conduit that had fallen off his dock and was lying on the ice. “While walking on the hill down to the dock, I stepped on ice and evidently fell hard, hitting the back of my head,” Cramer wrote. He went on to say that he had no memory of the fall itself but recalled waking up at Sanford Health emergency room with his wife, Kris, by his side.
After undergoing several tests, including a CT scan, and consulting with a neurologist, Cramer received the diagnosis of a severe concussion, a seizure, and a slight brain bleed. “The wound on my head wouldn’t stop oozing, so the doctor punched a couple of staples on the laceration and admitted me,” he explained.
Despite the serious injury, Cramer said he was able to get some rest and reported feeling better the next day, although he still experiences significant headaches. “I had a good night sleep before getting a second CT scan. I am better today with only a slight brain bleed and pretty bad headaches,” Cramer said. He also noted that doctors advised him to rest a little longer before returning to Washington, D.C., but emphasized that he was prepared to come back quickly if needed for a critical vote. “It will be day to day this week, but I am ready to return quickly if events require it,” he added.
A spokesperson for Cramer confirmed that the senator is currently recovering at home. The spokespersons for Cramer did not indicate when they believe he will be able to return to his job in the U.S. Senate chamber. Though, Cramer has indicated he wants to take the recovery “day-by-day”, leaving the possibility open for him to return to D.C. sooner rather than later.
As for the Senate’s schedule, Cramer’s absence comes at a time when additional nominations from President Donald Trump are expected to be confirmed, including the appointments of Army Secretary nominee Daniel Driscoll and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. Despite Cramer’s likely absence, Senate Republicans hold a 53-seat majority, ensuring that there will still be enough votes to confirm the president’s nominees.
Cramer, who is serving his second term in the Senate, is a member of several key Senate committees, including the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Banking Committee. It seems as though Cramer will be just fine, though this hasn’t been the case for some of the more elderly Congressmen and women in recent years.
Mitch McConnell Announces Retirement After Health Scares: A Look at His Career and Health Struggles
Mitch McConnell, the longest-serving senator in Kentucky’s history, recently announced that he will retire and will not seek reelection for an eighth term in office. The 83-year-old senator made this announcement in a speech on the Senate floor, revealing that he would serve out the remainder of his current term, which runs through January 2027. McConnell’s decision to retire follows a series of health issues, including multiple falls and other health scares that began in March 2023, leading to widespread speculation about his future in politics.
McConnell’s health challenges began to attract public attention when, in March 2023, he tripped at a dinner event in Washington, D.C. He was later hospitalized for treatment, though it took over 13 hours before the public was informed that he had suffered a concussion. The delay in revealing the full extent of his injury raised concerns, but McConnell’s office confirmed that he was recovering, and at the time, it was expected that he would remain in the hospital for several days.
This wasn’t McConnell’s first significant fall. In 2019, he fractured his shoulder at his home in Kentucky, but he managed to recover from that injury. However, the March 2023 fall was more serious. After spending a weekend in the hospital, McConnell was diagnosed with a fractured rib, in addition to the concussion. Following more than five weeks of recovery, he returned to work in the Senate, but the incident raised questions about his ability to continue serving in the Senate at the same level of intensity he had in the past.
The Shocking Press Conference Freezes
As McConnell worked through his recovery, more health-related incidents followed, heightening concerns about his well-being. In July 2023, during a press conference in Washington, D.C., McConnell experienced a public health episode that led to him freezing for over 20 seconds. He appeared unable to speak, and his colleagues had to escort him away from the podium. When McConnell later returned, he reassured the public by saying, “I’m fine.”
However, a second similar incident occurred just a few weeks later in Northern Kentucky. While giving a statement at a press conference in Covington, McConnell again froze in front of reporters, this time for over 30 seconds, after being asked a question about his potential reelection in 2026. He initially asked the reporter to repeat the question, and after a brief pause, McConnell’s aide, Robbin Taylor, repeated the query. The senator was led away, and the press conference resumed with staff repeating questions on his behalf.
A spokesperson for McConnell later addressed the incident, explaining that McConnell had “felt momentarily lightheaded and paused during his press conference today.” Despite these explanations, the repeated health episodes left many questioning McConnell’s ability to continue fulfilling the demanding role of a U.S. senator.
McConnell’s health struggles have naturally sparked debates about whether Congressmen and women should be allowed to serve as long as someone like McConnell has. There has been growing support for term limits for Congress-members. His decision not to seek an eighth term and his planned retirement has already prompted potential candidates to emerge for the Senate seat.
Stay tuned to the DC Daily Journal.
