WASHINGTON — (CNN) Sen. John McCain returned to the Senate on Tuesday to cast one of the final and crucial votes on a procedural step to advance Republicans’ plans to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.
McCain, who had been recovering from surgery in Arizona, flew to Washington and was greeted by a standing ovation on both sides of the aisle on the Senate floor when he arrived just minutes before 3 p.m. ET. He waved and gave the thumbs up to reporters before casting his vote.
McCain was essential to advance the legislation. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell could only afford to lose two votes of his 52-member conference in order to pass, and both Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkwoski of Alaska voted against the step.
McCain’s office announced Monday night that he would return — a surprise to most in Washington who expected him to miss the crucial vote and return to Washington at a later date.
McCain underwent surgery to remove a blood clot earlier this month at Mayo Clinic Hospital in Phoenix. Lab results from that surgery confirmed the presence of brain cancer associated with the blood clot.
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