McConnell returns to the Senate for the first time since his June
hospitalization
[September 15, 2026]
By MARY CLARE JALONICK
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky returned
to the Senate to vote on Monday for the first time in three months,
looking noticeably more frail after he was hospitalized for a June fall
in his home.
McConnell's lengthy absence from the Senate generated a flood of
criticism and online speculation, as he initially remained quiet for
weeks about his condition. The 84-year-old senator eventually disclosed
a month later that he had been “briefly unconscious” due to the fall and
had also been treated for mild pneumonia in the hospital.
He briefly addressed reporters Monday from a wheelchair outside the
Senate chamber, smiling but speaking slowly and with some difficulty.
McConnell joked that he wasn’t sure how many reporters would be there
after dodging so many questions during his almost two decades as leader.
He said he was back in the Senate to work on a pending farm bill and
because he has an ongoing interest in NATO and “backing up our good
friends who are totally in the fight against the Russians.”
Reporters and photographers were told by Senate staff not to take video
of his remarks in the second-floor hallway, even though video is often
permitted in that area. Still images were allowed.
McConnell, who holds the distinction of being the longest-serving Senate
leader, is in his final months of his four decades in office. He is
retiring at the end of January after one of the most consequential
careers in modern politics.
Republicans have nominated U.S. Rep. Andy Barr to replace him, while
Democrats have nominated former state lawmaker Charles Booker. McConnell
has said he is determined to finish out his term.
McConnell suggests he's still recovering
In a statement issued before his remarks, McConnell made clear that he
may still miss some votes due to his health issues.
He said that he is "still not quite back to 100%, but I’ve assured
Leader (John) Thune that, as I continue with physical therapy on the
advice of my doctors, I will do my best to be present for tough votes
when our Conference needs me.”
“My recovery has been a long and often frustrating process, and the
lingering effects of childhood polio haven’t made it any easier,”
McConnell said in the statement.
The senator's extended leave highlighted increasing public concern about
the age of lawmakers and their capacity to carry out their duties.
Speculation about his condition grew so intense at one point that
Kentucky’s Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear took the extraordinary step of
issuing a public letter asking McConnell to update the public in a
“transparent manner.”
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Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., speaks to reporters at the U.S.
Capitol, Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison
Robbert)
McConnell’s absence was also felt over the summer as Republicans
were unable to advance a farm bill out of committee. His return
could give GOP leaders a needed vote as they try to advance
legislation on cryptocurrency regulation and college sports.
A history of health problems
McConnell had polio in his early childhood and has long acknowledged
difficulty as an adult in walking and climbing stairs.
A statement from the Capitol physician that was included with
McConnell's July release said that the senator has “experienced
several falls through the year” due to his “post-polio condition.”
The office said his physical therapy was aimed at reducing the risk
of him falling again.
“A comprehensive evaluation by a multidisciplinary team determined
that he had no fractures, cardiac abnormalities, stroke, tumor, or
hemorrhage,” the physician’s office said.
McConnell was first elected to the Senate in 1984 and was the
Republican leader from 2007 until last year, serving as both
majority and minority leader during that period.
Toward the end of his time as leader and in the last two years as a
rank and file senator, McConnell's health has visibly declined.
He was hospitalized with a concussion in March 2023 and missed
several weeks of work after falling in a Washington hotel. He twice
froze up during news conferences after he returned, staring vacantly
ahead before colleagues and staff. A year later, he fell and
sprained his wrist while walking out of a GOP luncheon.
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