Former Sen. Joe Lieberman has died, his family announced Wednesday. He was 82 years old.
Lieberman died in New York City “due to complications from a fall,” his family said in a statement.
“His beloved wife, Hadassah, and members of his family were with him as he passed. Senator Lieberman’s love of God, his family, and America endured throughout his life of service in the public interest,” the statement read.
Lieberman, a prominent Jewish politician who represented Connecticut, was Al Gore’s running mate on the Democratic ticket in 2000. A political maverick who ultimately became an independent, he also nearly joined former Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain’s presidential ticket as his running mate.
The two were friends and were both defense hawks, advocating for a muscular U.S. posture abroad.
Lieberman became a player on the political scene again in recent years as the founding chair of the No Labels party, which is weighing launching a “unity ticket” in this year’s presidential race, though no major candidates have said they plan to join.
