Hawley Sounds Off As McConnell Remains Silent In Hospital: ‘Totally In The Dark’

“To be down a vote,” Hawley continued, “We’ve got a slim majority; it’s not easy.”

While Hawley said he would “defer” to Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., on how to handle McConnell’s situation, he noted that the lack of GOP votes is hurting priorities like the voter integrity measure, the SAVE America Act.

“I just hear a lot from leadership that, ‘Well, we don’t have the votes for this.’ Like the voter I.D., we don’t have the votes for that. Well, we might want to do something about that,” he said.

Hawley also said that he too has been “totally in the dark” about McConnell’s condition and said, “I never had any idea about any of his health stuff.”

“I hope he recovers, but I also hope that they get the transparency out there to help people know what the situation is,” he said.

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How many days has it been since anyone has seen Mitch McConnell alive?

— Marjorie Taylor Greene

(@mtgreenee) July 19, 2026

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Mitch McConnell has been a senator for over 41 years. He took office on January 3rd 1985. Is it to much to ask for the truth about his health condition? I'm just a small part of this country but I think we all should be informed about his true situation. pic.twitter.com/X8EDZzGqMs

— UNCLE Larry (@unclelarry1952) July 18, 2026

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My guess is he’s gone. https://t.co/c7X4zehQKV

— Catturd ™ (@catturd2) July 18, 2026

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Biden’s halting gait, frail appearance and frequent verbal stumbles eventually doomed his 2024 reelection campaign. After a debate in which he frequently lost his train of thought, he chose to withdraw from the race, sparking an unprecedented swap at the top of the Democratic ticket that ultimately paved the way for Trump’s return to office.

Many others have refused to retire. California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a Democrat, died in office in 2023 at the age of 90, after years of declining health, including a bout of shingles. Though she returned to the Senate after her illness, she appeared frail and confused at times. It was later revealed that her office had failed to disclose in real time that she had contracted encephalitis while recovering.

Longtime Republican Rep. Kay Granger of Texas spent the final months of her more than two decades in Congress, when she was in her early 80s, suffering from what her office called “unforeseen health challenges” that made travel to Washington difficult.

Eleanor Holmes Norton, 88, the longtime House delegate for the District of Columbia, announced earlier this year that she would not run for reelection amid questions about her competency.

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WATCH: Sen. Josh Hawley says Mitch McConnell’s team owes Kentucky voters greater transparency.

With McConnell recovering for more than a month following a fall and hospitalization, Hawley argued that elected officials and their staff have an obligation to keep constituents… pic.twitter.com/AxuNQUwWqi

— Fox News (@FoxNews) July 19, 2026

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