Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/democratic-senator-johnson-in-critical-condition Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Transcript Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., was in critical condition Thursday, following brain surgery. His medical condition has raised questions about the fate of the new Senate majority in Congress and the possible political impact of the Senator's illness. Read the Full Transcript Notice: Transcripts are machine and human generated and lightly edited for accuracy. They may contain errors. MARGARET WARNER: For most of today, reporters and photographers waited outside George Washington University Hospital for an update on the condition of Senator Johnson; it never came.All that's known is that the 59-year-old lawmaker yesterday suffered a type of brain hemorrhage, that he underwent surgery, and is listed in critical but stable condition.Incoming Majority Leader Harry Reid spent many hours with Johnson at the hospital yesterday and visited him again this morning. Upon his return, reporters at the Capitol asked Reid if his fellow Democratic senator was alert or conscious.SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV), Senate Minority Leader: Whatever I say about his medical condition would not be enough for you, so I'm not going to talk about his medical condition. I saw him; he looked great. To me, he looked very good. MARGARET WARNER: The U.S. Capitol physician, Admiral John Eisold, issued a statement saying Johnson had been suffering from excessive bleeding within the brain, caused by a congenital condition known as arteriovenous malformation, or AVM.AVM occurs when the brain's blood vessels grow tangled together and, in some cases, like Johnson's, they can burst. The condition is quite rare, occurring in less than 1 percent of the population.Outcomes in the case of hemorrhage vary. A small percentage of patients die; others suffer from long-term neurological damage; and others recover completely. Admiral Eisold said Johnson was "recovering without complication," but it was "premature to assess any long-term prognosis."That didn't stop political speculation today about the impact on the balance of power in the Senate if Johnson were unable to continue in office. Senate Democrats currently expect to have a 51-49 majority when the new Congress convenes on January 4th.But if Johnson's seat became vacant, South Dakota Governor Mike Rounds — a Republican — could appoint a Republican to replace Johnson for the remaining two years of his term. That would shift the Senate balance to 50-50. This morning, Majority Leader Reid refused to speculate on that possibility. SEN. HARRY REID: There isn't a thing that's changed. The Republicans selected their committees yesterday; we've completed ours. I have a very busy schedule today, going ahead and getting ready for the next year.