Minnesota Republican Senate candidate Jason Lewis on Monday was rushed into emergency surgery due to a severe internal hernia, his campaign announced in a statement. Lewis' campaign said later that the operation was successful.

Lewis, 65, was taken to the emergency room early Monday after experiencing severe abdominal pain. Doctors diagnosed him with a “severe internal hernia” and feared that it could be deadly if not treated quickly.

“Congressman Lewis was rushed into emergency surgery which he is now undergoing,” Lewis’ campaign manager Tom Szymanski said in a statement.

Lewis served in the U.S. Houe of Representatives from 2017 to 2019. He is facing Sen. Tina Smith, a Democrat who won the seat's special election in 2018.

“Prior to being taken to the operating room, Jason was in good spirits, optimistic, and true to form, he was speculating about when he could resume campaigning, eager to continue fighting for his fellow Minnesotans,” Szymanski said.

Smith holds a comfortable lead in most recent surveys, although a KSTP/SurveyUSA poll released last week showed a much tighter contest, with Smith holding the advantage over Lewis, 43%-42%.

Smith took to Twitter to sent her best thoughts to Lewis, wishing him "a successful surgery and a speedy recovery.”

Lewis has been an avid Trump supporter and shares many of the White House's political stances. Trump has voiced his support for Lewis at recent Minnesota rallies.

Lewis was part of the welcoming committee when Trump arrived in Minneapolis on his most recent visit and flew with Trump on Air Force One. He had taken himself off the campaign trail twice due to potential coronavirus exposures though he has tested negative.

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