LOUISVILLE, KY. (THECOUNT) — U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, 83, said Monday he will miss the annual Fancy Farm political event in Kentucky as he continues rehabilitation following a June 14 fall that left him hospitalized and temporarily unable to resume his full Senate schedule.
McConnell, a Republican senator from Kentucky and the longest-serving Senate party leader in U.S. history, said he remains focused on physical therapy and recovery while following doctors’ instructions.
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“I’m still working hard to get back to my full schedule of work in the Senate and in Kentucky, keeping up with intense physical therapy per my doctors’ orders,” McConnell said in a statement. “Unfortunately, that means I won’t be able to make it to Fancy Farm, Kentucky this Saturday.”
The Fancy Farm event, held annually in Graves County, Kentucky, is a major political gathering featuring speeches from candidates and elected officials. McConnell said he appreciates continued well wishes and looks forward to returning to his work in Washington and Kentucky.
The Office of the Attending Physician said McConnell remains in a rehabilitation facility and has not yet been medically cleared to return to the Senate office.
According to the statement, McConnell is continuing an intensive rehabilitation program that includes multiple physical therapy sessions each day aimed at rebuilding strength and reducing the risk of future falls.
McConnell’s office also released a new photograph of the senator with his wife, Elaine Chao, saying the image was taken Sunday, July 26.
McConnell was hospitalized June 14 after a fall, though his office initially provided limited details about the incident. The lack of information prompted calls from some officials, including Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, for additional transparency regarding the senator’s condition.
In a statement released July 12, McConnell said the fall caused him to briefly lose consciousness. He also revealed that he was treated for a mild case of pneumonia during his hospitalization.
McConnell, who was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1984, stepped down from his role as Senate Republican leader in 2025 but continues serving as a senator representing Kentucky.
His office has not announced a specific timeline for his return to Washington, saying his recovery will continue under medical guidance.
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