Senate Commerce 'Probably' Postponing Sohn, Bedoya Votes After Lujan Stroke: Cantwell

The Senate Commerce Committee will “probably” postpone planned Wednesday votes on Democratic FCC nominee Gigi Sohn and FTC nominee Alvaro Bedoya amid expectations that Senate Communications Subcommittee Chairman Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., would be unable to appear at the meeting after having a stroke, Chair Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., told reporters Tuesday afternoon. Lujan’s expected vote in favor of Sohn would be crucial to ensure Sohn receives the 14 Democratic votes needed to reach a Senate Commerce tie given expectations that no Republicans will back her, lobbyists said.

Lujan, 49, is “expected to make a full recovery” after having a stroke Thursday, Chief of Staff Carlos Sanchez said in a statement Tuesday. “Lujan “began experiencing dizziness and fatigue” early Thursday morning and “was found to have suffered a stroke in the cerebellum, affecting his balance. He subsequently underwent decompressive surgery” at University of New Mexico Hospital in Santa Fe “to ease swelling.”

“We’re definitely having to pare down” the Wednesday meeting agenda because of Lujan’s hospitalization, so both Sohn and Bedoya will likely not get votes, Cantwell said. “I don’t know what” will still be on the agenda “because it’ll have to be about what we can get” bipartisan support to advance. It’s a shock “for a young man” like Lujan to have a stroke and “we just wish him the best” and are encouraged he will make a full recovery, Cantwell said.