Mitch McConnell will not vote in the Senate this week [UPDATE: Brain dead?]

[Wingnut]

AT least Bruce willis kept working after his death,  Mitch never worked when he was alive so how would we know if he was dead?  :)

[240B]

Just like Biden, McConnell's China controlled wife has been the real Senator for years.
McConnell has been 'brain dead' for years.

[Sighlass]

AT least Bruce willis kept working after his death,  Mitch never worked when he was alive so how would we know if he was dead?  :)

Mitch worked at keeping funds from real conservatives when election times came into play, always pushing the more moderate over any grass roots real conservatives.

[mystery-ak]

NEW: Mitch McConnell’s Wife Breaks Her Silence

Published 17 hours ago

on July 10, 2026

By Trinity Hallinan

Elaine Chao is pushing back after her trip to China during Sen. Mitch McConnell’s hospitalization fueled online speculation and political chatter.

The former U.S. transportation secretary returned to the United States this week after traveling abroad while her husband remained hospitalized following a June 14 medical emergency.

Chao’s trip became a flashpoint as McConnell’s team continued to provide few details about why the 84-year-old Kentucky Republican was admitted to the hospital or how he is doing.

“The secretary was on a long-planned trip in China to support her family’s philanthropic endeavors,” a spokesperson for Chao said in a statement to The Courier Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network. “During the trip, she met with a number of people, including the U.S. ambassador. The senator’s health did not warrant an immediate return to the U.S.”

Chao, who served as transportation secretary during President Donald Trump’s first term and labor secretary under President George W. Bush, has been married to McConnell for decades.

Days after McConnell was hospitalized, the Chinese Embassy in Washington released a photo of Chao seated beside Chinese Vice President Han Zheng in Beijing.

The image, taken in front of a large painting of the Great Wall, only added fuel to the online rumors already swirling around McConnell’s health.

Chao left for China on June 12, two days before McConnell was hospitalized, according to WLKY in Louisville.

Her staff did not say whether she had been in contact with McConnell since returning home, according to the station.

more
https://trendingpoliticsnews.com/new-mitch-mcconnells-wife-breaks-her-silence-trin/

[mountaineer]

"Her family's philanthropic endeavors." Oh, my sides! 

[Luis Gonzalez]

[Polly Ticks]

“The secretary was on a long-planned trip in China to support her family’s philanthropic endeavors,” a spokesperson for Chao said in a statement to The Courier Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network.

Uh huh. Charity begins at home, Ms. Chao.

[Luis Gonzalez]

Uh huh. Charity begins at home, Ms. Chao.

… and she’s clearly showing us where she considers home to be.

[Polly Ticks]

… and she’s clearly showing us where she considers home to be.

Fair point.

[Free Vulcan]

So she emitted some vague smoke that clarifies nothing. If it's not serious enough to come back to America for, then why is nobody giving any new on his non-serious health status?

[catfish1957]

So she emitted some vague smoke that clarifies nothing. If it's not serious enough to come back to America for, then why is nobody giving any new on his non-serious health status?

GOP brass is probably trying to figure out how to deal with Beshears appointing Turtle's replacement

[Hoodat]

GOP brass is probably trying to figure out how to deal with Beshears appointing Turtle's replacement

In Kentucky, the Governor does not have the power to appoint a replacement.  Kentucky goes without a second Senator until after the next election.

[catfish1957]

In Kentucky, the Governor does not have the power to appoint a replacement.  Kentucky goes without a second Senator until after the next election.

Hmm....  According (AI-see below) he does have the power to call for a special election, but I guess he can choose not to, or delay.

Kentucky law requires a special election to fill a vacant U.S. Senate seat, eliminating the option for a temporary appointment. The governor must call this special election, and until it occurs, the state would have only one sitting U.S. senator.
lex18.com
Process for Replacing a U.S. Senator in Kentucky
Special Election Requirement

    Kentucky law mandates that a special election must be held to fill a vacant U.S. Senate seat.
    The governor is responsible for calling this special election.

Elimination of Temporary Appointments

    Recent changes to the law have removed the option for a temporary appointment to fill the vacancy.
    This means that until the special election occurs, Kentucky will have only one sitting U.S. senator.

Context of the Law Changes

    The law was updated in 2024, following a previous revision in 2021 that allowed for temporary appointments.
    The 2024 revision reflects a shift towards allowing voters to decide on their representation.

Timing Considerations

    If a Senate seat becomes vacant close to an upcoming election, such as within 56 days, it may complicate the special election process.
    For instance, if a vacancy occurs shortly before a scheduled election, there may not be enough time to conduct a special election.

This structured approach ensures that the citizens of Kentucky have a direct say in who represents them in the U.S. Senate

[Right_in_Virginia]

Timing Considerations

    If a Senate seat becomes vacant close to an upcoming election, such as within 56 days, it may complicate the special election process.

This could get messy, and there's no precedent.  Would Andy Barr automatically be the Republican candidate in the interim election and then run again in the midterm?  Or could there be an interim candidate to run only in the interim election?

[Free Vulcan]

This could get messy, and there's no precedent.  Would Andy Barr automatically be the Republican candidate in the interim election and then run again in the midterm?  Or could there be an interim candidate to run only in the interim election?

Depends on KY law, but in Iowa the special election date can be the general election date if late enough and the winner does the full term.