Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell appeared to briefly freeze and was unable to answer a reporter’s question at an event in Kentucky on Wednesday, weeks after he had a similar episode in Washington.
According to a video on a local news channel, McConnell, 81, was asked if he would run for re-election in 2026. The senator asked the reporter to repeat the question before interrupting and staring straight ahead for about 10 seconds.
A woman standing next to McConnell at the front of the room asked him if he had heard the question, and he repeated it. When McConnell didn’t respond, he announced to the room that “we’re going to need a minute.” McConnell ended up answering two other questions – although not the one regarding the 2026 campaign – and was hesitant and seemed to have some difficulty speaking. The woman then ended the press conference and McConnell left the room, walking slowly.
McConnell’s reaction was similar to the time he froze for about 20 seconds at a Capitol Hill press conference in late July. He returned to his office with his assistants and then returned to answer more questions.
Wednesday’s latest incident in Covington, Kentucky, adds to questions in recent months about McConnell’s health and whether the Kentucky Republican, who was first elected to the Senate in 1984 and has served as GOP leader since 2007, he will remain in his leadership position.
His office later said McConnell felt “momentarily dizzy” and would see a doctor before his next act. Similarly, after the July episode, his aides said McConnell was dizzy, and McConnell told reporters several hours later that he was “fine.” Neither McConnell nor his aides have given more details about what happened.
In March, McConnell suffered a concussion and a broken rib after falling and hitting his head after dinner at a hotel. He did not return to the Senate until almost six weeks later. He has been using a wheelchair at the airport while traveling to and from Kentucky. Since then, he seems to walk more slowly and his speech sounds more choppy.
McConnell suffered from polio in his early childhood and has long acknowledged that he has difficulty climbing stairs. In addition to the fall in March, he also tripped and fell four years ago at his Kentucky home, causing a broken shoulder that required surgery.
