A spokesperson for Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has announced that the 83-year-old REpublican lawmaker has been hospitalized after experiencing “flu-like symptoms” over the weekend.
McConnell checked himself into a Washington, D.C., hospital “out of an abundance of caution” for evaluation, according to his office.
The hospitalization caused the longtime Kentucky senator to miss Senate votes on Monday and Tuesday.
His office said McConnell remains in regular contact with staff and expects to return to Senate duties soon.
In a statement, McConnell spokesman David Popp said:
“In an abundance of caution, after experiencing flu-like symptoms over the weekend, Senator McConnell checked himself into a local hospital for evaluation last night.
“His prognosis is positive, and he is grateful for the excellent care he is receiving.
“He is in regular contact with his staff and looks forward to returning to Senate business.”
No additional details regarding McConnell’s symptoms or a specific timeline for his return have been released.
🚨 BREAKING: Sen. Mitch McConnell, 83, hospitalized over the weekend with flu-like symptoms, spokesman says his prognosis is “positive” and he’s “grateful for the excellent care he is receiving.”
Term limits now! pic.twitter.com/YndozKogFQ
— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) February 4, 2026
McConnell has served in the U.S. Senate since 1985 and is the longest-serving Senate party leader in American history.
He stepped down as Senate Republican leader following the November 2024 elections and announced in February 2025 that he would not seek reelection this year.
The hospitalization is the latest in a series of health-related incidents involving the senator, who contracted polio as a child.
The illness left lasting effects on his mobility, particularly in his left leg.
In recent years, McConnell has suffered multiple falls and several widely publicized health scares.
In 2019, he fractured his shoulder after falling at his Kentucky home and required surgery.
On March 8, 2023, McConnell fell at a dinner event in Washington, D.C., sustaining a concussion and a fractured rib.
He was hospitalized for several days and later underwent inpatient rehabilitation, causing him to miss nearly six weeks of Senate business.
Later in 2023, McConnell experienced two separate incidents in which he appeared to freeze during public appearances.
On July 26, 2023, he stopped speaking mid-sentence during a press conference and stared ahead for roughly 20 seconds before aides intervened.
A similar episode occurred weeks later at an event in Kentucky.
Following those incidents, Capitol Attending Physician Dr. Brian Monahan cleared McConnell medically, stating there was no evidence of a seizure disorder, stroke, transient ischemic attack, or movement disorder such as Parkinson’s disease.
Monahan suggested the episodes could be related to McConnell’s earlier concussion or dehydration.
In February 2025, McConnell fell twice in one day at the Capitol, once near the Senate chamber stairs and again during a Republican conference lunch, after which he was escorted out in a wheelchair as a precaution.
Most recently, on October 16, 2025, McConnell tripped ahead of a Capitol vote while responding to a question on immigration enforcement.
Staff attributed the fall to lingering effects of polio and said the senator was otherwise doing well.
As of Tuesday night, McConnell’s office said his condition was stable and his outlook positive.
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