Senior House Democratic Rep. Rosa DeLauro was hospitalized Monday to treat a spinal condition.
The Connecticut lawmaker, who is 82, was treated successfully and is expected to undergo physical therapy before returning to work in September. Congress is currently out of town for the August recess.
“I am pleased to share that my surgery at Griffin Hospital was a success, and I am deeply grateful to Dr. Judith L. Gorelick and the entire care team for their skill and support. I also want to thank my family, friends, colleagues, and constituents for their well wishes and encouragement,” DeLauro said in a statement.
Spinal stenosis is a common condition in older people. It occurs when the spaces in the spine become narrow, placing pressure on the spinal cord and nerves.
Dr. Judith L. Gorelick, a board-certified neurosurgeon, performed the surgery at Griffin Hospital in Derby.
DeLauro is a cancer advocate. She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1986, and was treated successfully thanks to early detection.
Seen as a liberal or progressive, DeLauro is easily recognized by her purple hairstyle and eccentric clothing.
The New Haven-based Democrat was first elected in 1990 after a fierce fight against Republican state senator Thomas Scott.
She has easily won re-election ever since, and is not letting age stop her from seeking a 19th House term in November.
Congress has often been described as a gerontocracy, where senior lawmakers cling to their jobs well past the typical retirement age and sometimes remain until death.
The age question has gripped Democrats with particular force after three House Democrats died in office this year. Raul Grijalva, Sylvester Turner, and Gerry Connolly were all in their 70s.
Democrats are also still grappling with their crushing defeat in 2024, which saw their octogenarian standard-bearer, Joe Biden, end his presidential campaign midstream and pass the torch to his unpopular vice president, who lost resoundingly to President Trump.
DeLauro is the top Democrat on the powerful House Appropriations Committee, which plays a key role in setting policy on federal spending. She is facing a primary challenge from a 40-year-old New Haven attorney, Damjan DeNoble, who says the party needs fresh blood.
“While Rosa DeLauro has done a great job for us, I think it’s time to pass the torch,” DeNoble said in an interview with the Connecticut Mirror. “The Democratic Party has proven itself to be very bad at at [sic] that.”
