Key takeaways:
- Gov. Andy Beshear asked Sen. Mitch McConnell to update Kentuckians on his health and ability to serve after being hospitalized since June 14.
- McConnell’s office has not said why he was hospitalized, but has said he continues to improve and is working with staff while the Senate is out of session.
- Republican allies including John Thune, John Barrasso and Scott Jennings said they recently spoke with McConnell by phone.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear asked Sen. Mitch McConnell on Wednesday to publicly update constituents on his health, 24 days after the 84-year-old Republican was hospitalized following a medical emergency that his office has not explained.
Beshear, a Democrat, urged McConnell to be “transparent” in a letter that cited growing concern in Kentucky about the senator’s condition and his ability to continue serving in the U.S. Senate.
“Over the last several weeks, Kentuckians have grown increasingly concerned about the current state of your health and wellbeing, and ability to hold office in the United States Senate,” Beshear wrote. “As Governor, I request that you fully update Kentuckians regarding the current status of your health.”
McConnell has been hospitalized since June 14. His office has not said why he was admitted, what his current condition is or when he may return to the Senate. McConnell’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment Wednesday.
NBC News reported last week that paramedics conducted CPR on an individual experiencing a “cardiac arrest” at a known address for McConnell on June 14, the same day his office disclosed he had been hospitalized. CBS News reported that emergency medical personnel responded to an unconscious person at McConnell’s home that day, citing a public EMS dispatch call it reviewed. McConnell’s office has not confirmed that the dispatch call involved the senator.
The lack of public detail has fueled speculation about McConnell’s health across the political spectrum. Beshear said in a statement that continued uncertainty serves neither McConnell nor Kentucky residents.
“Over the last several weeks, Kentuckians have grown increasingly concerned about the health and well-being of Sen. McConnell,” Beshear said. “As Governor — and a fellow public official who understands the commitment we’ve made to the people we serve — I am requesting the Senator provide an update on his current health status.”
“Allowing speculation to continue in the media is not fair to the Senator or to Kentuckians, and my hope is that this provides him the opportunity to share the information in a transparent manner, direct from the source,” Beshear added. “I wish him a safe and speedy recovery.”
In his letter, Beshear said public officials “have made a commitment to our constituents to do our best to represent them and to always be transparent.” He wrote that he believes that duty “requires clear communication about one’s ability to serve.”
McConnell’s office said last week that the senator was improving and working while the Senate was out of session. “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 July 2 statement said, according to NBC News. Earlier this week, a McConnell spokesman said that statement remained accurate and that McConnell was still in the hospital.
Republican Senate leaders and McConnell allies have said they recently spoke with him by phone. NBC News reported that Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota, Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso of Wyoming and former McConnell campaign aide Scott Jennings said they had separate 20-minute calls with McConnell in recent days on topics including the Iran war, the Graham Platner scandal in Maine and Supreme Court rulings.
A spokeswoman for Barrasso told CBS News that McConnell “was fully engaged and is eager to get back to the Senate.”
McConnell is not seeking reelection but has said he plans to serve the rest of his term, which runs through early next year. The Senate is scheduled to return to session next week, though it remains unclear when McConnell will come back.
If a vacancy occurs, Kentucky law now requires a special election and limits the governor’s role in choosing a replacement. Beshear vetoed the 2024 legislation that changed the rules, saying his administration “deserves the same authority as previous administrations,” but the Republican-led legislature overrode the veto.
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