McConnell’s condition improving amid hospitalization, spokesperson says

Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., continued to recover in the hospital Friday after being admitted for an unspecified medical issue nearly three weeks ago. The senator appreciated the outpouring of support he’s received during his continued recovery, a spokesperson from McConnell’s office shared in a Thursday night statement. McConnell’s condition was improving, and the senator continued working closely with staff on legislative matters while the Senate was out of session, the spokesperson added.

McConnell’s office shared few details after the senator’s initial hospitalization on June 14. Earlier this week, an independent journalist published 911 audio indicating that emergency responders were called to McConnell’s Washington, D.C., home on a report of an unconscious person the same day the senator was hospitalized. The audio indicates that the individual suffered cardiac arrest and that CPR was in progress. The patient was never publicly identified. McConnell’s name was never referenced in the dispatch call or scanner traffic.

Is McConnell planning to run for another term? In an address to the Senate last year, McConnell announced his plan to retire when his term ends in 2027. The 84-year-old, who was elected in 1985 and has served in the Senate for just over 40 years, made history as the longest-serving party leader in American history. McConnell led the Senate Republican Conference for 18 years before stepping down in November 2024.