Senator McConnell returns to work after three month health absence

Republican Senator Mitch McConnell came back to the Senate on a Monday in September 2026, after being away for about three months. He was wheeled into the chamber when he returned. McConnell had been absent because of health problems that started with a fall in June. He then caught pneumonia while he was in hospital. His office said that complications from childhood polio made his recovery take longer than expected. Many people had been asking questions about his health during his long absence. His return matters because senior leaders in the Senate affect how the chamber works and how much their party can get done in Congress.