Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., returned to the Senate on Monday for the first time since he was hospitalized in June.
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Mitch McConnell returns to the Senate after 3-month absence
Dig deeper:
McConnell said he was not back to 100% but wanted to be present for “tough votes” ahead.
What they’re saying:
“My recovery has been a long and often frustrating process, and the lingering effects of childhood polio haven’t made it any easier,” McConnell said in a statement Monday. “I’m still not quite back to 100%, but I’ve assured Leader Thune that, as I continue with physical therapy on the advice of my doctors, I will do my best to be present for tough votes when our Conference needs me.”
The 84-year-old senator was seen at the U.S. Capitol on Monday in a wheelchair while speaking to reporters.
FILE – Senator Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky, speaks to members of the media as he arrives at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, US, on Monday, Sept. 14, 2026. (Pete Kiehart/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Big picture view:
Concerns over McConnell’s absence during his final months in office highlighted growing public debate regarding the age and capacity of aging lawmakers.
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His return provides Republicans with a critical vote to advance key stalled legislation before his retirement after four decades in politics.
What’s next:
McConnell also noted he is determined to finish out his term, which ends in January.
Mitch McConnell hospitalized after fall
The backstory:
McConnell had been absent from the Senate after suffering a bad fall in early June.
His absence was further prolonged when he developed pneumonia and went through a sting of rehab to recover from his fall.
He was hospitalized with a concussion in March 2023 and missed several weeks of work after falling in a Washington hotel. He twice froze up during news conferences after he returned, staring vacantly ahead before colleagues and staff. A year later, he fell and sprained his wrist while walking out of a GOP luncheon.
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