Mitch McConnell's wife releases statement as senator remains hospitalized
Questions swirl over McConnell's hospitalization
Questions continue to swirl over Kentucky GOP Sen. Mitch McConnell's hospitalization. LiveNOW's Alexandra Goldberg has more.
Sen. Mitch McConnell’s weeks-long hospitalization is fueling widespread speculation about his health – and growing public pressure for his office to provide an update on his condition.
On Wednesday, Democratic Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear became the latest public official to request an update on McConnell’s health. McConnell, the longest serving Senate leader in history before he stepped down in 2025, is still in the hospital more than three weeks after medics responded to reports of an "unconscious" person at his home in Washington, D.C.
"Over the last several weeks, Kentuckians have grown increasingly concerned about the health and well-being of Sen. McConnell," Beshear said in a statement. "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."
RELATED: Mitch McConnell still hospitalized over 2 weeks after 911 call
What happened to Mitch McConnell?
What we know:
According to the 911 call obtained by WLKY, a dispatcher reported a "cardiac arrest" at McConnell’s Washington, D.C. address around 8:30 a.m. June 14. The dispatcher called for a Medic 3, or a "highly trained advanced life support unit" with paramedics trained on advanced medical interventions.
U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) speaks during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on the FY2027 budget request in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill on May 12, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
The dispatcher also said the person was "unconscious," while a medic confirmed that CPR was in progress.
A few hours later, McConnell’s office announced that he was in the hospital "receiving excellent care."
RELATED: Sen. Mitch McConnell taken to the hospital
What we don't know:
McConnell’s office still hasn’t said what happened or why McConnell remains in the hospital. On Tuesday, his office sent out the same statement it shared last week:
"Senator McConnell appreciates the outpouring of support he’s receiving while he continues his recovery in the hospital. The Senator continues to improve, and is working closely with his staff on Kentucky and Senate matters while the Senate is out of session."
McConnell’s wife releases statement
According to WLKY, McConnell’s wife, former Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, was in China when McConnell was first hospitalized. She released the following statement on Wednesday:
"The secretary was on a long-planned trip in China to support her family's philanthropic endeavors. During the trip, she met with a number of people, including the US ambassador. The Senator's health did not warrant an immediate return to the US."
McConnell’s colleagues weigh in
What they're saying:
A spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said he had spoken with McConnell by phone on Monday and that the two had a "lengthy and substantive conversation that covered a variety of topics, including national security." As leader, Thune is generally kept up to date on illnesses and absences in his conference as he has to navigate vote counts and his narrow 53-47 majority.
Sen. McConnell remains hospitalized, 'continues to improve'
Hellbender Newsroom's Olivia Krauth joins LiveNOW's Alexandra Goldberg to discuss Sen. Mitch McConnell's health status as he remains hospitalized.
Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, the No. 2 Senate Republican, had a 20-minute conversation with McConnell on Tuesday, according to a spokeswoman. The two discussed Senate races ahead of the midterm elections, the Supreme Court and other topics, the statement said.
"Senator McConnell was fully engaged and is eager to get back to the Senate," said Barrasso spokeswoman Kate Noyes.
Another McConnell ally, Republican strategist Scott Jennings, posted on X that he had also talked to McConnell for 20 minutes on Tuesday, and that "he’s still recovering in the hospital." Jennings said they spoke about politics, foreign policy "and even a little bit of Senate history."
Will McConnell return to the Senate?
What's next:
It’s unclear whether McConnell will return to the Senate when it’s back in session Monday, July 13.
Political observers say with the Senate so evenly divided, McConnell’s absence could have legislative consequences, particularly with the upcoming vote to increase defense spending as requested by President Donald Trump.
McConnell’s health scares
The backstory:
McConnell’s health has been a subject of scrutiny for years.
RELATED: Video shows McConnell appear to freeze again while talking to reporters
He fell and sprained his wrist while walking out of a GOP luncheon in December 2024. He was hospitalized with a concussion in March 2023 and missed several weeks of work after falling in a Washington hotel. After he returned, he twice froze up during news conferences that summer, staring vacantly ahead before colleagues and staff came to his assistance.
Video shows McConnell freeze again during press gaggle
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell got confused again while speaking with reporters in Kentucky in 2023. It's the second time in a month he's become unresponsive and had to be helped.
RELATED: McConnell slams polio vaccine critics in apparent warning to RFK Jr.
McConnell had polio in his early childhood and he has long acknowledged some difficulty as an adult in walking and climbing stairs. In addition to his 2023 fall, he also tripped and fell in 2019 at his home in Kentucky. He had surgery for a fractured shoulder.
The Source: This article includes information from WLKY and The Associated Press, and comments from Sen. Mitch McConnell’s office, Sen. John Barrasso, Scott Jennings, Sen. John Thune, and McConnell’s wife Elaine Chao.