News24 | Long hospitalisation of US Senator Mitch McConnell rattles Republicans

The weeks-long hospitalisation of Mitch McConnell, the former Republican leader in the US Senate, was rattling his party’s narrow majority on Tuesday as members awaited word on whether he would return.

The 84-year-old Kentucky politician, who led Senate Republicans for longer than anyone in history before stepping down in 2025, has not voted since 11 June, and is serving the final months of a congressional career that began in 1985.

McConnell was admitted to hospital on 14 June, with his office saying only that he was “receiving excellent care”.

But emergency dispatch audio reported by US media has deepened concern in Washington, indicating that responders were sent that morning to McConnell’s address for an unconscious person and that CPR was in progress.

The recordings do not name McConnell, and his office has not publicly said what caused his hospitalisation or what treatment he is receiving.

READ | Trump in shouting match with Republican senator over Iran deal

“Senator McConnell appreciates the outpouring of support he’s receiving while he continues his recovery in the hospital,” his spokesperson said in a statement.

The lack of detail has fuelled speculation over whether McConnell will be able to return when senators come back to Washington next week – and whether Republicans can afford his continued absence.

The party holds a narrow 53-47 majority, leaving Senate Majority Leader John Thune with little room for missing votes or defections as he tries to advance spending bills and other priorities before November’s midterm elections.

He missed a 23 June vote on a House-passed resolution directing US President Donald Trump to withdraw US troops from the military conflict with Iran.

I spoke to my old friend Mitch McConnell this morning, the senior Senator from Kentucky. He’s still recovering in the hospital. We talked for just shy of 20 minutes … about IRAN, UKRAINE, the unfolding situation in MAINE, my visit to the TR Presidential Library, and even a…

Four Republican senators joined Democrats, and the measure passed with McConnell and Republican Senator David McCormick absent.

His continued hospitalisation could also complicate efforts to move defence funding and other legislation through the Senate Appropriations Committee, where his absence can leave Republicans and Democrats evenly split.

He was hospitalised in 2023 after a fall that left him with a concussion, later froze twice during public appearances, sprained his wrist in another fall last year and spent more than a week in hospital earlier this year after flu-like symptoms.

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