U.S. Sen. Tim Johnson (D-S.D.) was discharged from GW Hospital’s inpatient care center Friday after doctors determined he was able to move on to the next stage of his recovery.

The senator underwent brain surgery late Dec. 13 after being rushed to GW Hospital for experiencing stroke-like symptoms. Johnson’s condition has been in the public spotlight as his health could be the difference between a Democratic or Republican Senate majority.

With Johnson, the Democratic Party enjoys a two-person advantage in the upper house. Had the Senator’s condition worsened, his vacated position would have been filled by South Dakota Gov. Mike Round, a Republican. Johnson’s replacement by a Republican would shift the Senate’s partisan balance to an evenly-split 50-50, with Vice President Dick Cheney breaking any tie.

The senator’s medical status was updated from “critical” to “fair” in early January. In a press release Monday, Dr. Philip Marion, medical director for the Department of Rehabilitative Medicine, said an angiogram preformed last week found Johnson much-improved.

-Kaitlyn Jahrling