Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said Thursday he’s had zero communication with Sen. Mitch McConnell’s office since the senator was hospitalized in mid-June.
“We’ve received no information, no updates,” Beshear said early Thursday afternoon.
“If he’s been in the hospital for several week, they need to communicate more directly,” Beshear said of McConnell’s camp. “I don’t even know if he’s been in the hospital for several weeks.”
The Democratic governor declined to speculate on the state of McConnell’s health, saying all he’s learned thus far has been what he’s read in media reports, which he has not independently verified himself. Reports this week from various press outlets, including NBC News and CBS News, have raised more questions about the senator’s health.
McConnell, 84, was hospitalized in mid-June for unknown reasons. Since then, his team has largely been quiet on the senator’s condition. Early Thursday evening, a McConnell spokesperson said in a statement he is continuing his recovery in the hospital and is improving.
“Senator McConnell appreciates the outpouring of support he’s receiving while he continues his recovery in the hospital,” the statement read. “The Senator continues to improve, and is working closely with his staff on Kentucky and Senate matters while the Senate is out of session.”
His hospitalization is the latest in a saga of health scares over the last few years, including public freezes and falls. Calls for some sign of life have started to mount in recent days, with some on social media asking Beshear to demand more information.
McConnell was already slated to retire at the end of the year, with his successor set to be decided by voters in November. Should he die or resign before then, Kentucky state law requires that a special election take place to fill out his seat and finish the term.
Republican US Rep. Andy Barr and Democrat Charles Booker are set to face off for McConnell’s Senate seat in the November midterms. On Thursday, Booker said it is “imperative” that Kentuckians know what is going on with McConnell’s condition.
“Kentuckians of every stripe, from lifelong Republicans and Democrats to first-time voters, deserve a clear and honest answer about their senator’s condition,” Booker said in a statement.
“This seat carries too much responsibility, and represents too many people, for anything less than real accountability. He, like every American, deserves great healthcare and transparent leadership.”
This article has been updated.
