Mitch McConnell’s recent hospitalization has renewed scrutiny of what would happen if Kentucky’s longest-serving senator were unable to complete his term.
The speculation follows his recent hospitalization and limited information released by his office.
While there has been no indication that McConnell plans to resign, the episode has drawn attention to a major change Kentucky lawmakers made in 2024 to the state’s Senate vacancy laws. The legislation eliminated the governor’s ability to appoint a replacement senator and instead directed vacancies to be filled through a special election process.
There’s no indication that McConnell is capable of making any plans for anything right now. Step one is proving he’s alive. Step two is proving he’s mentally capable. If neither is true, he needs to be impeached, like yesterday.
Does he? The Republican majority in the Senate is 53-47 right now. McConnell holds the seat but can’t show up to vote on anything. He also can’t participate in his committees. He’s not an asset, he’s a hindrance to Republican goals. A Special Election would likely result in a fresh new young Republican who could move the evil agenda forward and who’d then be the incumbent for the next 40 years. Unless you think there’s such a groundswell of Democratic Socialism in Kentucky that you could flip the seat, but I have doubts.
Maybe. McConnell is a lot more to the Republicans than a vote, he’s a beacon of soft power. Even the idea that he might return may be more valuable to them than some greenhorn state senator.