Sen. Mitch McConnell was admitted to a hospital Sunday morning, and as of Monday his office had not disclosed a diagnosis or the name of the hospital. Spokesperson Dave Popp confirmed the hospitalization in a statement Sunday, saying only that "he is receiving excellent care."
According to CBS News, McConnell voted last week, including in the last vote series on June 11. He also presided over a Senate Appropriations Defense subcommittee hearing on the Air Force Budget on June 9. The previous week, he participated in an all-day and all-night vote-a-rama that stretched from 11 a.m. on June 4 through 5 a.m. on June 5.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Monday he had spoken with the senator. "He sounded good. He wants to be back," Thune said. Thune added that McConnell was following Senate activity closely. "He is clearly dialed in to what's going on. He's following along with stuff we are doing this week up here. Very much so," Thune said. Thune said he was hopeful McConnell would return to Capitol Hill this week but deferred to McConnell's staff on the timing.
In a statement issued Monday evening, Popp said McConnell "is fully engaged with staff on Senate business and Kentucky matters and is very appreciative of the outstanding care he is receiving." Republican Whip John Barrasso also confirmed through a spokesperson that he spoke with McConnell on Monday and that McConnell was "engaged" and eager to return.
This is the latest in a series of health incidents for the senator. McConnell, a childhood polio survivor, was hospitalized in February after checking himself in for flu-like symptoms, spending more than a week there. In May, he was seen at a committee hearing with a bandage around his hand. In 2023, he was hospitalized with a concussion after a fall and later appeared to freeze in two separate public instances. He suffered minor injuries in 2024 after another fall.
McConnell served as Senate GOP leader from 2007 until 2025. He announced last year that he would not seek reelection in 2026 after more than 40 years in the Senate. His term ends in January.
