Former Lt. Gov. Wilder battling pneumonia, in hospital

State Sen. John Wilder, the 86-year-old former lieutenant governor, is in the hospital battling pneumonia.

Mark Brown, a spokesman for the Senate Democratic Caucus, said Wilder (D — Mason) has been in the hospital in Nashville since Wednesday of last week.

“He’s doing fine,” Brown said. “Getting better each day and we’re looking forward to having him back in the Senate.”

Wilder, who served as lieutenant governor and Senate speaker for 36 years, missed the Senate’s floor session Wednesday and Thursday last week.

It is not known at this point when Wilder will be released, Brown said.