Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear asks Sen. Mitch McConnell to give a public update on his condition
Governor of Kentucky Andy Beshear asks directly Senator Mitch McConnellThe 84-year-old, the state’s most powerful figure in Congress, will provide more information about his condition after three weeks of silence since he was hospitalized in Washington.
“Kentuckians have become increasingly concerned about the current state of your health and well-being and your ability to remain in office,” Beshear, a Democrat who is considered a potential 2028 presidential candidate, wrote in a letter to the former Senate Republican leader on Wednesday.
McConnell, whose physical condition had visibly declined in recent years, was hospitalized on June 14. He has not released any press releases, photos or videos since then. Aides have not revealed anything specific about his condition, other than to say last week that McConnell “continues to improve and is working closely with his team on Kentucky and Senate issues while the Senate is out of session.”
This lack of detail has fueled widespread speculation about his trajectory and whether he will return to the Senate when it reconvenes next week. The firestorm left Republican Senate leaders on Tuesday made public statements He said they spoke with McConnell and he was alert and discussing current events.
McConnell retire at the end of term of office in January and the campaign to elect his successor is already underway. The Kentucky Senate succession bill, which Republican lawmakers amended twice during Beshear’s tenure, does not give the governor a role in choosing an interim successor if McConnell’s seat becomes vacant before the end of his term.
Under the latest change in 2024, if the seat becomes vacant before Aug. 3, a special election will be held to elect a replacement, perhaps held simultaneously with the general election in November. The winner of the special election could take office almost immediately. The winner of the general election will be sworn in as part of the new Congress in January.
If the seat is vacated after August 3, by law there will be no time for a special election and the seat will remain vacant until January.
Beshear concluded his letter by wishing McConnell a “safe and speedy recovery.”
