Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) formally requested an update on Sen. Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) health on Wednesday amid the senator’s recent and ongoing hospitalization.
“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 in a Wednesday letter to the senator. “As Governor, I request that you fully update Kentuckians regarding the current status of your health.”
The 84-year-old senator, who is set to retire in January 2027, was hospitalized on June 14, according to a statement from his office. Audio from a 911 call revealed first responders went to his home in Washington, D.C. on that day, where a person was found “unconscious” after suffering “cardiac arrest,” according to several reports. Since then he has missed many floor votes.
“As public officeholders, we have made a commitment to our constituents to do our best to represent them and to always be transparent. I believe this requires clear communication about one’s ability to serve,” Beshear added in his letter.
McConnell has experienced numerous health issues and incidents over the past few years, including multiple public falls and freezes. In February, he was hospitalized for eight days due to “flu-like symptoms.”
Kentucky Republicans in the state legislature passed a bill in 2024 that stripped Beshear of his powers to autonomously fill any vacancies for the state’s U.S. Senate seats. Beshear vetoed that legislation but was overruled by the GOP-controlled state legislature. If McConnell vacates his seat, the governor will have to hold a speedy special election to fill that vacancy. If the vacancy happens within 56 days of an election and there is not enough time to hold one, the seat would remain vacant until the next regular election. The race for McConnell’s seat will take place during the general election this fall, meaning the cutoff date requiring a special election would be early September.
Amid the widespread speculation about McConnell’s health (and the wild online conspiracy theories that have emerged in the wake of little transparency from his office), Republican lawmakers have been making public statements about their conversations with the Kentucky senator.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) said he had a “lengthy and substantive conversation” with McConnell earlier this week. Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) also put out a statement saying he spoke with McConnell on the phone for “roughly 20 minutes,” adding that he “was fully engaged and is eager to get back to the Senate.”
A former McConnell adviser and CNN commentator Scott Jennings also posted on social media saying they talked “for just shy of 20 minutes” about various topics.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) poked fun at fellow Republicans for using the same 20 minutes time reference in all of their public remarks about their conversations with McConnell.
I spoke to McConnell for about 20 minutes this morning.
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) July 7, 2026
He said we should end the war with Iran, quit giving aid to Israel, stop spying on Americans without a warrant, and he’s really sorry about how my primary turned out.
On Tuesday, McConnell’s office also chimed in, saying that “the senator continues to improve and is working closely with his staff on Kentucky and Senate matters while the Senate is out of session” in a statement.
Reminds me of when Spain’s Franco died. It was a standing joke on SNL.
Mitch would love to come to the phone, but he’s awfully busy having conversations with dozens of people simultaneously while kicking 100 yd touchdowns and shotgunning beers.