Is Mitch McConnell returning to the Senate? What we know
Mitch McConnell discharged from rehabilitation center
Sen. Mitch McConnell was discharged from a rehabilitation center in early August. LiveNOW's Andy Mac discussed McConnell's health update with Savannah Behrmann from CQ Roll Call.
Sen. Mitch McConnell could be returning to the Senate soon, according to reports.
McConnell, the longest serving Senate leader in history before he stepped down in 2025, has been out for nearly three months after being hospitalized for a fall and mild pneumonia. His absence has been felt in the Senate, where Republicans have narrow control.
When is Mitch McConnell returning to the Senate?
What we know:
According to Punchbowl News, Republican leadership expects McConnell could be back in the Senate as soon as Monday, the start of the September work period.
Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., arrives to chair the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense hearing on the budget request for the U.S. Army on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
What we don't know:
McConnell’s office has not confirmed the report. A spokesperson for McConnell declined to comment to Punchbowl News, and his office wasn’t immediately available for comment to FOX Local.
What happened to Mitch McConnell?
The backstory:
McConnell was hospitalized June 14, but his office waited weeks to disclose that it was because of a fall. The lack of transparency led to wild speculation about the 84-year-old senator’s health and his capacity to serve.
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.
RELATED: GOP lawmaker questions Mitch McConnell's health: 'Do you know that he’s alive? I don't'
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," but it would be nearly a month before McConnell released a statement with more information.
Sen. McConnell breaks silence after hospitalization
Sen. Mitch McConnell says that a fall led to his ongoing hospitalization. The statement released in July marked his first public explanation of his condition after weeks of speculation surrounding his health.
On July 12, McConnell said he was hospitalized because of a fall and mild pneumonia. He spent nearly two months at a rehabilitation center before returning home in early August.
McConnell had polio in his early childhood and has long acknowledged some difficulty walking and climbing stairs as an adult. The Office of the Attending Physician has said McConnell was undergoing a strenuous course of physical therapy and rehabilitation since he left the hospital, which includes multiple sessions a day designed to rebuild strength and reduce the risk of future falls.
Why did McConnell hide his condition?
What they're saying:
He said he waited to disclose his condition because "folks of my generation often hesitate to share the vulnerability that comes with growing older."
RELATED: Senator Mitch McConnell breaks silence: 'Mild pneumonia' developed after fall
"Even in the public eye, I feel that same instinct — I can’t help it," he said.
The other side:
Critics have said McConnell hasn’t been transparent enough about his health. Kentucky’s Democratic governor, Andy Beshear, recently called on the senator to either prove that he is fit to continue serving after his lengthy hospital stay or resign from office.
Big picture view:
McConnell’s absence is being felt in the Senate: Republicans were unable to advance at least one bill because they were short of a vote.
The Source: This article includes information from Punchbowl News, WLKY, The Associated Press and previous FOX Local reporting.