Staff for Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell stated that the senator is continuing his recovery in a hospital while the Senate is adjourned. His office has not released details regarding his condition during the weekslong hospitalization or whether he will be present when the Senate reconvenes.
McConnell was admitted to the hospital on June 14, according to his office, which initially stated he was "receiving excellent care." A subsequent statement indicated he would not be voting that week. As of Thursday, a new statement reported that he "continues to improve" and "appreciates the outpouring of support he’s receiving while he continues his recovery in the hospital."
No further updates have been provided by his office, and a spokeswoman did not respond to a request for comment on Monday. This unspecified health issue follows several hospitalizations in recent years.
McConnell, 84, previously served as the longest-serving Senate leader in history before stepping down from that role. He is currently serving the final term of his Senate tenure, which concludes in January.
During his time as Republican leader, McConnell experienced a concussion in March 2023 after a fall in a Washington hotel, leading to several weeks away from work. In the summer of 2023, he twice experienced episodes during news conferences where he appeared to freeze before being assisted by colleagues and staff. A year prior to that, he fell and sprained his wrist while leaving a GOP luncheon.
McConnell has publicly acknowledged difficulties with walking and climbing stairs as an adult, stemming from polio in his early childhood. He also sustained a fractured shoulder in a 2019 fall at his home in Kentucky.
Elected to the Senate in 1984, McConnell led Senate Republicans from 2007 until the previous year, holding positions as both majority and minority leader. He has continued to participate as a rank-and-file senator, attending sessions when the chamber is convened, and often uses a wheelchair for mobility.