The Alabama Democratic Party on Tuesday called on Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., to resign, blaming his holds on military promotions for causing a gap in leadership after Marine Commandant Gen. Eric Smith suffered a heart attack and appearing to suggest Smith’s increased workload led to his hospitalization.

“Our Top Marine, after months of working two positions and sleeping 5 hours a night due to the Tuberville military holds, suffered a heart attack and we have no acting commander to replace him,” the party tweeted Monday.

Addressing Tuberville, the party continued: “This is on your shoulders. Resign.”

Neither Alabama’s senior senator nor the Alabama Democratic Party could immediately be reached for comment.

The state party’s remarks were echoed by Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., chairman of the Armed Services Committee who has heavily criticized Tuberville’s holds on military nominations. Tuberville has put the promotions on hold since February in response to Defense Department policies reimbursing travel expenses for service members who seek abortions and live in states where the procedure is illegal.

“One of the reasons, I think contributed to his condition was he was doing two jobs at once,” Reed told Politico. “I’ve read where he was working from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. As a result, if he had, as is normal, an assistant, he could switch off.”

Smith, 58, was jogging Sunday in Washington when he suffered an apparent heart attack, USA Today reported. Smith remained hospitalized Tuesday morning.

The Marines is left without an assistant commandant due to Tuberville’s holds.

Lt. Gen. Karsten Heckl, deputy commandant for combat development and integration and commanding general of the Marine Corps Combat Development Command, is performing Smith’s duties in his absence.

Tuberville is asking his colleagues to support an effort to quickly confirm Lt. Gen. Christopher Mahoney as second-in-command to Smith, a Senate aide told the Associated Press.

Tuberville began circulating a petition, which would need signatures from at least 16 senators, to force the chamber to consider the nomination of Mahoney. Mahoney would become the No. 2 Marine behind Smith. That maneuver is the same one that lawmakers used in September to vote to install Gen. CQ Brown Jr. as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff along with several other military leaders, including Smith.

If the effort is successful, Mahoney could be confirmed as soon as Thursday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.