- Sen. Mitch McConnell, 84, remains in hospital more than three weeks after emergency responders received a call about an unconscious person.
- A spokesperson for McConnell has said the senator is doing well and continues to work with staff from hospital.
- If unable to finish term, snap elections would be called to replace the senator for the remainder of his term.
U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky was hospitalized on June 14. On the same day, medical personnel reported that a person from one of the senator’s residences had experienced cardiac arrest and was receiving CPR, according to media reports.
The unconscious person, according to a public EMS dispatch call, has not been identified.
The day following the hospitalization, Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters on Capitol Hill that, after speaking with McConnell on the phone, the senator “sounded good.”
Since being hospitalized, McConnell has been recovering in a hospital in Washington, D.C.
McConnell will officially end his seven terms in the Senate in January of next year after he announced last year that he will not be seeking reelection.
Recent history of hospitalizations
The 84-year-old senator has been serving in Congress since 1985, making his total time served more than 41 years.
The hospitalization is the fourth in recent years. In March 2023, McConnell tripped and fell at a dinner in D.C., suffering a concussion and fractured rib.
McConnell again fell in December 2024, cutting his face and injuring his wrist.
After experiencing flu-like symptoms in February of this year, McConnell was hospitalized for over a week.
Little is known of the senator’s current health status beyond a statement released by McConnell’s spokesperson. “Sen. McConnell,” the statement said, “appreciates the outpouring of support he’s receiving while he continues his recovery in the hospital.”
Spokesperson says McConnell continues to work
“The senator continues to improve, and is working closely with his staff on Kentucky and Senate matters while the Senate is out of session,” the statement said.
Since the release, his staff has released only limited updates on McConnell’s condition.
Kentucky voters are already preparing to vote on who will replace McConnell in January, but concerns remain for how the state will be represented in the interim.
What would happen if McConnell is unable to finish his term?
If McConnell were to resign or be otherwise unable to continue serving before Aug. 3, the governor could call a special election in Kentucky.
In 2024, Kentucky lawmakers updated the state’s vacancy laws. The updates would require a special election rather than allowing the governor to appoint someone to finish the senator’s term. Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, would only be able to sign a proclamation calling for a snap election.
If McConnell is found unable to serve the remainder of his tenure after Aug. 3, the special election would automatically coincide with the general election in November. The person voted to replace McConnell would only serve the remaining 11 weeks of his term.