Sen. Rand Paul said there "is a point to be made" if Sen. Mitch McConnell cannot return to Washington before the November elections, but he stopped short of demanding an immediate resignation. McConnell, 84, was hospitalized after a June 14 fall and is currently in physical therapy; his office has released only limited photo updates. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has urged McConnell to prove his fitness or resign, and state law could allow the governor to appoint a temporary replacement if the seat becomes vacant. McConnell's absence is politically significant because Republicans hold a narrow Senate majority.
Rand Paul Says “A Point To Be Made” If McConnell Can’t Return Before November
Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul stopped short of calling for an immediate resignation Wednesday but said "there's a point to be made" if Sen. Mitch McConnell is unable to return to Washington before the November elections.
"I don't know how long he's going to be out. If he's coming back next week — no. If he doesn't come back in all of the three months, I think there's a point to be made," Paul told NewsNation's Katie Pavlich.
McConnell, 84, the longtime Republican senator and former Senate Majority Leader, is not seeking re-election. He was hospitalized on June 14 after a fall at home, and his office has issued only limited photo updates this month showing the senator with his wife, Elaine Cho. In the most recent statement, McConnell said he is undergoing physical therapy.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, has publicly urged McConnell to either demonstrate that he is fit to continue serving or to step down.
"I am calling on you to directly and verbally address the people of Kentucky and provide proof of your capacity to serve, or resign," Beshear wrote this week.
If McConnell's Senate seat becomes vacant, Kentucky law gives the governor a pathway to appoint a temporary replacement under a state constitutional clause — a step that would reshape the political landscape in the state and could affect control of the Senate.
Paul criticized Beshear's public pressure, calling the governor "a wannabe that's going nowhere" and suggesting the request was politically motivated. Paul also said he has not personally spoken with McConnell, noting the senator has "chosen to be very, very private" and that many in the public want more information about his condition.
McConnell's continued absence takes on added significance because Republicans hold only a slim majority in the Senate. Any prolonged vacancy or change to the seat could have implications for closely contested votes and the party balance in the chamber.
Help us improve.
