Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell is currently facing health challenges after a fall earlier this week. McConnell suffered a fall outside a Senate luncheon on Tuesday, resulting in a sprained wrist and facial cuts. Despite returning to work shortly after the incident, McConnell is now experiencing leg stiffness as a result of the fall, prompting him to work from home on Thursday.
This recent fall adds to a series of medical incidents for McConnell, who has announced his decision to step down from his leadership position at the end of the year. In March 2023, McConnell was hospitalized with a concussion and later faced difficulties during news conferences after falling in a hotel. In 2019, he tripped and fell at his Kentucky home, leading to a shoulder fracture that required surgery.
McConnell's health challenges can be traced back to his early childhood battle with polio, which has caused ongoing difficulties with walking and climbing stairs in his adult life. Despite these challenges, McConnell has had a long and distinguished career in the Senate, serving for over four decades and leading the GOP for almost two decades.
While McConnell will be stepping down from his leadership role, he will continue to serve in the Senate as the head of the Senate Rules Committee. South Dakota Sen. John Thune has been elected to succeed McConnell as the Senate leader when Republicans regain the majority in January.
