Josh Hawley wants McConnell’s party to be transparent with voters

As questions continue about the condition of Kentucky Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell, Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., issued a scathing rebuke of his party’s handling of the crisis, reminding them of their “responsibility to your members.”

The 84-year-old leader who was the leader of the majority of the Senate has been away from his house for more than a month after he fell in his house and was hospitalized. His absence, coupled with the sudden death of Sen. Lindsey Graham, leaves Senate Republicans down by two crucial votes in the race to repeal key parts of President Donald Trump’s plan.

Speaking to Fox News Digital, Hawley, a nutritionist, said she wishes McConnell and her family the best and hopes he recovers.

At the same time, however, Hawley said that “at some point you have a responsibility to your members and the country to tell them what’s going on.”

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“For us to be down on the vote,” Hawley continued, “We have a small majority; it’s not easy.”

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

“I hear a lot from the leadership saying, ‘Hey, we don’t have the votes for this.’ As a voter ID, we don’t have votes for that. Well, we would like to do something about that,” he said.

Hawley also said he was also “completely in the dark” about McConnell’s condition and said, “I’ve never had an idea about any of his personal stuff.”

“I hope that he will recover, but I also hope that they will go public and help people know what the situation is,” he said.

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WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 20: Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is pushed in a wheelchair at the US Capitol on February 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. McConnell, 83, a seven-term senator from Kentucky who served 18 years as the Republican leader, has announced he will not seek re-election and will retire after his current term. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Asked if he believed McConnell’s situation was evidence of the need for age limits to serve in office, Hawley quickly responded, “Well, I’m a tenured person, so I’m fine with that.”

“There is nothing against our older colleagues,” he continued. He pointed to Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, 92, saying, “Chuck is sharp as tack and spry and all that stuff.”

“But I think there should be term limits. People just come here and stay forever. And I think that’s what the founders intended; I don’t think it’s what the people want. So, I’ve always been a big proponent of a constitutional amendment for term limits.”

McConnell is completing his seventh term in the Senate. He was first elected to the chamber in 1984. In June, he was hospitalized after a fall in his Washington, DC apartment. He later developed pneumonia while in the hospital.

After a long period of silence, the McConnells released an open letter to Kentuckians in which the senator addressed his long absence. McConnell attributes his fall to mobility issues left over from his childhood bout with polio.

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Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) speaks at a press conference with other members of the Senate Republican leadership following a policy luncheon in Washington, DC on October 28, 2025. (Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images)

He admitted that according to the advice of his doctors “he will not be able to return to the Senate to vote at this time.”

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However, McConnell insisted, “I have every intention of finishing the job you elected me to do,” and said, “I will continue to work hard to return to the Senate floor as soon as possible.”

He also promised to keep them updated on the progress of his recovery.