Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) is receiving support from his Democratic and Republican colleagues in the House after revealing he has a “serious but curable form of cancer.”
In a statement Wednesday night, Raskin shared he had been diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. He explained he would “embark on a course of chemo-immunotherapy on an outpatient basis.”
“Prognosis for most people in my situation is excellent after four months of treatment,” the statement continued.
Raskin added, “With the benefit of early detection and fine doctors, the help of my extraordinary staff, the love of Sarah and our daughters and sons-in-law (actual and to-be) and family and friends, and the support of my beloved constituents and my colleagues in the House, I plan to get through this and, in the meantime, to keep making progress every day in Congress for American democracy.”
The Maryland congressman’s announcement of his diagnosis comes roughly two years after he lost his son to suicide on New Year’s Eve 2020.
Several Democrats took to Twitter to express their support for Raskin — but several House Republicans did as well.
“Praying for you and your family tonight,” Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) tweeted.
Appreciate the call today. Praying for you and your family tonight. https://t.co/JW3VOogENT
— Rep. Nancy Mace (@RepNancyMace) December 29, 2022
Rep. Young Kim (R-Calif.) wrote, “Hoping for a speedy recovery for [Raskin] and my prayers are with him and his family during this difficult time.”
Hoping for a speedy recovery for @RepRaskin and my prayers are with him and his family during this difficult time. 🙏 https://t.co/tcDG5ZeFjO
— Young Kim (@RepYoungKim) December 29, 2022
Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) tweeted, “Praying for [Raskin] I know a little about Lymphoma. You got this, Jamie. Godspeed.”
Praying for @RepRaskin – I know a little about Lymphoma. You got this, Jamie. Godspeed. https://t.co/KbIau3JORz
— Chip Roy (@chiproytx) December 28, 2022
And Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) wrote, “We disagree often, but I’ll be praying for Jamie Raskin. Cancer is a terrible disease. I watched my father die from it, and it broke my heart.”
“It’s good Rep Raskin has hope and his form of cancer is curable with the treatment he will be starting,” she added.
We disagree often, but I’ll be praying for Jamie Raskin. Cancer is a terrible disease. I watched my father die from it, and it broke my heart.
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) December 29, 2022
It’s good Rep Raskin has hope and his form of cancer is curable with the treatment he will be starting. https://t.co/HHQaBQjHRD
These last two years, the atmosphere in the House has been pretty tense. Metal detectors were installed at the entrances to the House floor amid concerns about Republican lawmakers who may be carrying guns. Democrats accused some of their Republican colleagues of helping to plan the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol.
During a Jan. 28, 2021, press conference, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) called for the passage of a bill to fund “security for members, when the enemy is within the House of Representatives, a threat that members are concerned about, in addition to what is happening outside.”
“We have members of Congress who want to bring guns on the floor and have threatened violence on other members of Congress,” she added.
And outside of the House, politics became so toxic that when former President Donald Trump had COVID-19 in 2020, users on Twitter were sending tweets expressing their hope he would die.
After the last couple of years, it was nice to see this show of support — even from those who strongly disagree with Raskin’s politics.