Bernie Sanders Undergoes Surgery at DC Hospital

Sen. Bernie Sanders had an elective outpatient hernia repair at GW Hospital.

ByABC News
November 30, 2015, 3:34 PM

— -- Sen. Bernie Sanders chose to undergo an outpatient hernia repair surgery at George Washington Hospital in Washington, D.C., today, according to a statement from his Senate office.

Campaign staff told ABC News that the 74-year-old Vermont senator was not feeling well this past weekend in New Hampshire, and on Sunday the Senator elected not to come by a rally with supporters in Manchester ahead of the state Democratic party’s annual Jefferson-Jackson dinner there.

Michael Briggs, a spokesperson for the Vermont senator’s presidential campaign, told ABC News that he does not think the procedure will impact Sanders's campaign schedule and that the senator is still planning to travel back to New Hampshire for more events this weekend.

"Sanders has maintained a grueling campaign schedule with coast-to-coast travel since announcing his presidential bid last May," Briggs said. "He faithfully travels back to Washington, D.C., for his Senate duties as well. He has been asked several times on the trail about his age and the toll of a presidential race and often answers that he has so far been blessed with good health."

The Sanders campaign told ABC News that the procedure already took place and he is in recovery now, and his wife Jane is with him. The campaign also confirmed that Sanders will return home from the hospital later today.