{"id":92797,"date":"2026-07-08T12:31:07","date_gmt":"2026-07-08T16:31:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/kentucky-governor-calls-on-sen-mcconnell-to-speak-out-about-his-health\/"},"modified":"2026-07-08T12:31:07","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T16:31:07","slug":"kentucky-governor-calls-on-sen-mcconnell-to-speak-out-about-his-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/kentucky-governor-calls-on-sen-mcconnell-to-speak-out-about-his-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Kentucky Governor Calls on Sen. McConnell to Speak Out About His Health"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has formally called on Sen. Mitch McConnell \u2014 the state’s most influential voice in Congress \u2014 to come forward with a public update on his health. The request comes after three weeks without any word from the 84-year-old senator since he was admitted to a hospital in Washington.<\/p>

In a letter made public on Wednesday, Beshear, a Democrat who is seen as a possible presidential contender in 2028, wrote to the former Senate Republican leader that “Kentuckians have grown increasingly concerned about the current state of your health and well-being, and ability to hold office.”<\/p>

McConnell, whose physical health has noticeably deteriorated in recent years, entered the hospital on June 14. Since that date, he has not appeared publicly, released any statements, or shared any photos or video. His staff has offered little in the way of specifics, saying only last week that McConnell “continues to improve, and is working closely with his staff on Kentucky and Senate matters while the Senate is out of session.”<\/p>

The vague response has sparked widespread speculation about his condition and whether he will return when the Senate reconvenes next week. The growing controversy prompted Republican Senate leaders on Tuesday to publicly confirm they had spoken with McConnell and that he was alert and engaged in conversations about current events.<\/p>

McConnell is set to retire when his current term concludes in January, and the race to choose his successor is already underway. Kentucky’s law governing Senate vacancies \u2014 which Republican lawmakers have changed twice during Beshear’s time as governor \u2014 does not allow the governor to appoint a temporary replacement if McConnell’s seat were to open before his term is up.<\/p>

Under changes made to the law in 2024, if the seat were to become vacant before August 3, a special election would be triggered to choose a replacement, possibly running alongside the general election in November. The winner of that special election could be seated almost immediately, while the general election winner would be sworn in with the new Congress in January.<\/p>

Should the seat become vacant after August 3, the law would not allow enough time to hold a special election, meaning the seat would remain empty until January.<\/p>

Beshear closed his letter by expressing his hope that McConnell enjoys “a safe and speedy recovery.”<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Kentucky’s governor has written a formal letter urging Sen. Mitch McConnell to publicly address his health status after three weeks of silence following his hospitalization. The 84-year-old senator has not issued any public statement, photos, or video since being admitted to a Washington hospital on June 14. Growing concern among Kentuckians about his ability to continue serving in office prompted the governor’s direct appeal.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":92796,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[833],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-92797","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-politics"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1783528266972.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pbtNqq-o8J","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":81414,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/former-senate-leader-mcconnell-hospitalized-few-details-released\/","url_meta":{"origin":92797,"position":0},"title":"Former Senate Leader McConnell Hospitalized, Few Details Released","author":"Admin","date":"June 14, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell was admitted to a hospital Sunday, though his spokesperson provided little information about the reason for the visit or his condition. McConnell, 84, has faced several health challenges in recent years, including falls and public freezing episodes. He recently stepped down from his role as Senate\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Politics"","block_context":{"text":"Politics","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/politics\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1781465457804.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1781465457804.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1781465457804.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1781465457804.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":92393,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/sen-mcconnell-still-hospitalized-as-gop-leaders-speak-with-him-by-phone\/","url_meta":{"origin":92797,"position":1},"title":"Sen. McConnell Still Hospitalized as GOP Leaders Speak With Him by Phone","author":"Admin","date":"July 7, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell remains hospitalized more than three weeks after being admitted for undisclosed health issues. Top Senate Republicans have spoken with him by phone, and aides say he is continuing to improve. Questions persist about whether he will return to the Capitol when the Senate resumes next week.","rel":"","context":"In "Politics"","block_context":{"text":"Politics","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/politics\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1783456406824.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1783456406824.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1783456406824.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1783456406824.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":91821,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/mcconnell-hospitalized-for-weeks-few-details-on-senators-condition\/","url_meta":{"origin":92797,"position":2},"title":"McConnell Hospitalized for Weeks: Few Details on Senator’s Condition","author":"Admin","date":"July 6, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell has been in the hospital since June 14, with his office offering little information about his condition. Staff confirmed last week he is 'continuing his recovery,' but no specifics have been shared. It remains unclear whether the 84-year-old will return to the Capitol when the Senate\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Politics"","block_context":{"text":"Politics","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/politics\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1783366269547.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1783366269547.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1783366269547.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1783366269547.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":77862,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/iowa-democrat-rob-sand-launches-governor-campaign-with-kentucky-gov-support\/","url_meta":{"origin":92797,"position":3},"title":"Iowa Democrat Rob Sand Launches Governor Campaign with Kentucky Gov. Support","author":"Admin","date":"June 7, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Rob Sand officially launched his Iowa gubernatorial campaign Sunday with backing from Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear. The race between Sand and Republican Zach Lahn is expected to be highly competitive as Iowa faces budget challenges and economic struggles.","rel":"","context":"In "Politics"","block_context":{"text":"Politics","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/politics\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1780807302714.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1780807302714.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1780807302714.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1780807302714.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":66943,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/kentucky-gop-candidates-navigate-tricky-relationship-with-departing-mcconnell\/","url_meta":{"origin":92797,"position":4},"title":"Kentucky GOP Candidates Navigate Tricky Relationship with Departing McConnell","author":"Admin","date":"May 15, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Republican candidates vying to replace retiring Senator Mitch McConnell are carefully balancing their campaigns between honoring his legacy and distancing themselves from his old-guard politics. The race reflects a broader generational shift in the GOP as Trump reshapes the party.","rel":"","context":"In "Politics"","block_context":{"text":"Politics","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/politics\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/news-1778823579407.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/news-1778823579407.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/news-1778823579407.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/news-1778823579407.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":87813,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/4-dead-in-kentucky-flooding-as-governor-declares-state-of-emergency\/","url_meta":{"origin":92797,"position":5},"title":"4 Dead in Kentucky Flooding as Governor Declares State of Emergency","author":"Admin","date":"June 27, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Severe thunderstorms have triggered deadly flooding across Kentucky, killing four people and prompting the governor to declare a state of emergency. Flash flood warnings remain in effect for parts of Kentucky and Indiana, with several inches of additional rain expected. Multiple water rescues have been conducted and at least 12\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Weather"","block_context":{"text":"Weather","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/news\/weather\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1782603043909.jpg?fit=1000%2C706&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1782603043909.jpg?fit=1000%2C706&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1782603043909.jpg?fit=1000%2C706&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1782603043909.jpg?fit=1000%2C706&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92797","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=92797"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92797\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/92796"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=92797"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=92797"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=92797"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}