Senate Republican leaders have spoken individually with Sen. Mitch McConnell, who remains hospitalized more than three weeks after his admission for undisclosed health issues. McConnell, 84, was admitted to the hospital on June 14.
Aides to the Kentucky senator have not released details about his condition, leading to speculation about his prognosis and whether he will be able to return to the Senate when it reconvenes after a recess. McConnell is retiring at the end of his current term in January.
Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., the Senate Majority Leader, spoke with McConnell by phone on Monday. A spokesperson for Thune stated that the conversation was "lengthy and substantive" and included discussions of national security. Thune, as leader, is typically kept informed about absences within his conference to manage vote counts for the chamber's narrow 53-47 majority.
Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., the second-ranking Senate Republican, spoke with McConnell for 20 minutes on Tuesday, according to his spokeswoman. Their discussion focused on Senate races, the Supreme Court, and other topics. Barrasso's spokeswoman, Kate Noyes, said that McConnell "was fully engaged and is eager to get back to the Senate."
Republican strategist Scott Jennings also reported speaking with McConnell for 20 minutes on Tuesday. Jennings, an ally of McConnell's, stated that the senator "is still recovering in the hospital" and that they discussed politics, foreign policy, and Senate history.
A statement released by McConnell's office a week after his initial admission said he would not be voting that week. On Thursday, a subsequent statement indicated that he "appreciates the outpouring of support he's receiving while he continues his recovery in the hospital." The statement added that the senator "continues to improve, and is working closely with his staff on Kentucky and Senate matters while the Senate is out of session." A spokesman for McConnell reiterated this statement on Tuesday without providing new updates.
This latest hospitalization follows several previous health-related incidents. In March 2023, McConnell was hospitalized with a concussion after a fall in a Washington hotel and missed several weeks of work. Upon his return, he experienced episodes of freezing up during news conferences before colleagues and staff assisted him.
A year later, he fell and sprained his wrist while leaving a Republican luncheon. He also sustained a fractured shoulder in a fall at his Kentucky home in 2019, requiring surgery.
McConnell, who had polio as a child, has openly acknowledged some adult difficulty with walking and climbing stairs. He was first elected to the Senate in 1984 and served as Republican leader from 2007 until the previous year. He has continued to serve as a rank-and-file senator, often using a wheelchair for mobility when the Senate is in session.