The family of a state lawmaker in Kentucky says he will continue his re-election campaign after initial hospital tests indicated he has some sort of a brain tumor.
Family members of Democratic state Rep. Wilson Stone posted a message to his personal Facebook page on Sunday. It says Stone "had a spell" while teaching Sunday school. They said testing at a local hospital "revealed some type of brain tumor" and that more tests are scheduled.
"He reminded us that the election is 3 weeks from this Tuesday and for everyone to keep his re-election going strong while he recovers!" family members wrote.
House Democratic Caucus spokesman Brian Wilkerson confirmed the Facebook account belongs to Stone.
Stone faces Republican Brian "Tiger" Gann in the Nov. 6 election. Gann said he is praying for Stone to have a speedy recovery and a return to full health.
"He and I are opponents in our race, but we are brothers in Christ," Gann wrote on his campaign's Facebook page.
Stone has been in the legislature since 2009. When Democrats were in power, Stone had the unofficial job of making the opening motion to begin each day's session, which included excusing lawmakers who were absent. He was elected House minority whip in 2017, shortly after Democrats lost control of the House of Representatives for the first time in nearly a century.
Last month, state Republican Party officials filed an ethics complaint against Stone for using taxpayer money to campaign for votes. Stone sent a survey to his constituents, which is legal. But the survey included the line: "I request your vote and support."
Stone apologized for the mailing and said he would reimburse the state.
