The national political scene was rocked this week with the announcement that U.S. Sen. John McCain, R – Arizona, is battling brain cancer.

In his three decades in the chamber, which led to his winning the 2008 Republican nomination for president, the former POW has similarly become an institution and widely-respected in the nation’s capitol, with a long history of working across the aisle with the opposing party.

For instance, with U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wisconsin, he was co-architect of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002. Though largely eliminated by the U.S. Supreme Court’s controversial Citizens United ruling of 2009, the legislation was, at the time, one of the most significant efforts made in Congress to curtail soft money in politics.

McCain’s office revealed the grim news on Wednesday that he has been diagnosed with a glioblastoma, one of the most malignant forms of tumors. Though removable and treatable with chemotherapy, in most cases, the tumor grows back.

The announcement of McCain’s plight immediately brought together Democrats and Republicans, who have been engaged in a battle over health care legislation these past weeks, to offer words of support for the senator.

One of the first to issue a statement was his 2008 rival, former President Barack Obama.

“John McCain is an American hero and one of the bravest fighters I’ve ever known,” Obama said. “Cancer doesn’t know what it’s up against. Give it hell, John.”

Here in Ohio, the state’s two senators weighed in.

Democrat Sherrod Brown, who worked with McCain this year to pass legislation codifying sanctions against Russia, spoke of the senator’s tenacity.

“John has more fight in him than anyone I know, and I look forward to having him back in the Senate soon,” Brown said.

Republican Rob Portman paid tribute to McCain’s service to his country as he said he was going to fight “his greatest battle.”

“He is an American hero—having served his country during the Vietnam War where he bravely endured over five years as a prisoner of war,” Portman said. “Even in those unimaginable circumstances, he refused to relent.”

In our hyper-polarized political climate, when the nation’s leaders seem constantly at odds, it is good to know that most in Washington can still transcend political differences and pay tribute to their colleague. Our thoughts are with this political statesman and his family in this difficult time.