Mitch McConnell, the longest-serving senator in Kentucky’s history, has once again drawn public attention over his health following a recent hospitalization for flu-like symptoms, adding to ongoing concerns as he prepares to wind down his decades-long career in Washington.
The 83-year-old lawmaker was admitted to a hospital in early February 2026 as a precaution after feeling unwell, according to his office, and subsequently missed several Senate votes while under medical observation. The update comes just months after McConnell suffered another fall at the U.S. Capitol on Oct. 16, 2025, when he lost his balance in a hallway while heading to cast votes. Video captured him reaching for an aide before collapsing to the floor, though he was helped up moments later and continued with his duties.
The October fall added to a growing list of health-related incidents in recent years. In July 2023, McConnell made headlines after appearing to freeze mid-sentence during a press conference, prompting aides to escort him away. Though he later returned and said he was “fine,” a similar episode occurred roughly a month later. The exact cause of those incidents has never been publicly disclosed.
Earlier in 2025, on February 20—his birthday—McConnell announced he would not seek re-election in 2026, marking the end of a Senate career that has spanned nearly four decades. The politician shared his decision while on the Senate floor, saying, “Seven times my fellow Kentuckians have sent me to the Senate. Every day in between I’ve been humbled by the trust they’ve placed in me to do their business right here. Representing our commonwealth has been the honor of a lifetime. I will not seek this honor an eighth time. My current term in the Senate will be my last.”
In light of his decision to step down after a long tenure, we’ve compiled all the details we know about McConnell’s health. Keep reading to learn about McConnell’s health history.
Mitch McConnell is in a wheelchair after falling multiple times today pic.twitter.com/pDd03oBgQl
— Max Cohen (@maxpcohen) February 5, 2025
Mitch McConnell’s Falls
McConnell experienced another fall on October 16, 2025, in a Senate office hallway while heading to cast votes. Footage captured him grabbing an aide’s arm before losing balance and falling. He was quickly helped up and proceeded to vote, with his office stating that he was “ready to vote again.”
This latest tumble adds to a troubling pattern of incidents: McConnell has previously fractured his shoulder (2019), suffered a concussion and rib injury after a fall in 2023, slipped exiting a plane at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport later that same year, and in late 2024 hurt his wrist and cut his face during a Senate event.
In February 2025, he fell twice in the Capitol after votes, briefly requiring use of a wheelchair. A spokesperson from McConnell’s team assured the public that he was “fine” and pointed out that the “lingering effects of polio in his left leg will not disrupt his regular schedule of work,” according to NBC News.
Mitch McConnell’s Heart Surgery
In 2003, McConnell underwent elective coronary artery bypass surgery, per Roll Call. At the time, Dr. Alan Spier noted that the politician’s “post-operative course would be uncomplicated and the prognosis for full and unrestricted recovery is excellent.”
Mitch McConnell’s Polio History
When he was a toddler, McConnell suffered from a polio attack in 1944, and his upper left leg was paralyzed by the disease. Though paralysis is a less common side effect of the illness, post-polio syndrome can follow a patient years after they’ve recovered from the virus.
In an old campaign advertisement, McConnell pointed out that his family “almost went broke” while trying to pay for the costs related to his polio.
Is Mitch McConnell Retiring?
Yes, on February 20, 2025, McConnell officially announced he will not run for re-election in 2026, saying that his current Senate term (ending January 2027) will be his last.
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