Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has been absent from the Senate for over a month.
He was hospitalized June 14. He has not released a public statement, photos, or videos since. His office has not disclosed anything specific about his condition.
McConnell, 84, was first elected to the Senate in 1984 and was the Republican leader from 2007 until last year, serving as both majority and minority leader.
The GOP has a narrow majority in the Senate with 53 seats. McConnell’s absence gives his party one less vote when it comes to passing crucial legislation such as reconciliation bills and spending packages.
This is what we know so far about the situation surrounding McConnell.
What Happened to McConnell?
According to a 911 call acquired by a Kentucky television station, a dispatcher reported a cardiac arrest at McConnell’s residence and requested that Medic 3 respond. The dispatcher also indicated that an individual was unconscious. During the call, a medic stated that CPR was underway and asked the dispatcher to alert a supervisor.
Two of the senator’s neighbors told Reuters they saw McConnell on a stretcher being loaded into an ambulance outside his home in Washington.
The lack of information on McConnell’s health prompted Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), on June 7 to tell multiple news outlets they had spoken to McConnell and he was alert.
Barrasso Communications Director Kate Noyes told The Epoch Times in an email on July 9 that Barrasso and McConnell spoke for approximately 20 minutes and talked about the latest news surrounding Senate races, the Graham Platner controversy, and the latest Supreme Court ruling on coordinated spending limits.
“They also discussed the Senate’s July work period, including the need to pass the [National Defense Authorization Act] and confirm President Trump’s nominee for director of National Intelligence,” Noyes said. “Sen. McConnell was fully engaged and is eager to get back to the Senate.”
Talking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Wednesday evening, President Donald Trump said he has not spoken with McConnell.
“I have no idea how he’s doing,” Trump said.
The Epoch Times has reached out to McConnell’s office for a status update on his health.
McConnell’s Health Issues
McConnell’s health has declined over the past few years.
A childhood polio survivor, McConnell had a concussion and broke his ribs after falling at an event in March 2023. He was hospitalized and, following therapy, returned to the Senate the following month.
The following July, during a press conference after the weekly Senate GOP policy luncheon, McConnell, then Senate majority leader, froze. He was escorted away from the podium but returned shortly thereafter, and when asked about his condition, he said he was “fine.”
A McConnell aide later told The Epoch Times that McConnell, who is in his seventh term in the Senate, “felt lightheaded and stepped away for a moment” and “came back to handle Q&A, which, as everyone observed, was sharp.”
The following month, in response to a question from a reporter during a press conference on whether he plans to run for reelection in 2026, McConnell said, “That’s a—” but suddenly froze. After about 17 seconds, an aide approached him and asked if he had heard the question and stated what the question was.
An aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told The Epoch Times that McConnell “felt momentarily lightheaded” and paused during his press conference.
Last February, McConnell was hospitalized for eight days after experiencing flu-like symptoms.
Kentucky Governor Seeks Answers
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, has asked McConnell for an update on his condition.
“Over the last several weeks, Kentuckians have grown increasingly concerned about the current state of your health and well-being, and ability to hold office in the United States Senate,” Beshear wrote in a July 8 letter to McConnell.
“As Governor, I request that you fully update Kentuckians regarding the current status of your health,” he continued.
Beshear said public officeholders “have made a commitment to our constituents to do our best to represent them and to always be transparent.”
“I believe this requires clear communication about one’s ability to serve,” he wrote.
Beshear concluded the letter by wishing McConnell “a safe and speedy recovery.”
What Happens If McConnell Can’t Serve
If McConnell, who is not running for reelection in November, is no longer able to serve, what would happen next would depend on when the vacancy occurs.
Kentucky law does not allow the governor to appoint a temporary replacement if McConnell leaves office before his term ends. During Beshear’s time in office, the Republican-controlled legislature has revised the state’s Senate vacancy rules twice, removing that authority from the governor.
Under the law passed in 2024, Beshear would be required to call a special election to fill the vacant seat. Once the election results are officially certified, the winner could immediately assume office.
Separately, the candidate elected to the next full Senate term would take office with the new Congress in January.
However, because the law has never been tested, there is uncertainty about exactly when the special election would have to take place and whether the seat could remain vacant until January.
The 2024 law states that the governor “shall” issue a proclamation for a special election but does not specify a deadline for doing so or require a particular election date. While other state laws establish minimum timeframes between issuing the proclamation and holding the election, they do not set a maximum timeframe.
Some officials believe that if a vacancy occurred after Aug. 3, the special election would likely be held alongside the regular general election. They have also suggested that if the vacancy happened close enough to Election Day, it might not be practical to hold a separate special election at all.
If a special election were held, the most straightforward approach would be to schedule it on the same day as the general election. Republicans have already nominated Rep. Andy Barr for the Senate seat beginning in 2027, while Democrats have chosen former state lawmaker Charles Booker.
Because the special election would be a separate contest, each party would need to make new nominations, although they could nominate the same candidates. In that case, voters would cast separate ballots on the same Election Day to choose both the immediate replacement and the senator for the upcoming full term.
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