Several GOP senators are considering the possibility of a special conference meeting to discuss the future of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell after a second public freeze-up in the last month.
Some rank-and-file Republicans have talked about a broader conversation regarding the topic after senators go back to Washington next week. A person directly involved in the conversations said that party leadership is not currently involved in those talks and noted that lawmakers have not yet decided on anything.
Mitch McConnell Leadership
It only takes five Republican senators in agreement to force a special conference meeting, which is the most direct way to conduct specific discussion regarding McConnell. After his Wednesday incident, he froze up in front of reporters and highlighted concerns surrounding his health condition and fitness.
However, the Senate GOP also holds private lunches two or three times every week, which gives members another way to hash out the direction of the party's leadership. As per Politico, This could forestall the need for a special conference meeting.
Additionally, the topic of McConnell's health is considered a touchy subject as the 81-year-old, the longest-serving party leader in Senate history, does not like talking about the issue. Even detractors of the Kentucky Republican's leadership style are sensitive to the matter after he fell in March and suffered a concussion.
Now, the question that the GOP faces is whether or not McConnell's health would result in a quicker transition atop the conference leadership that eventually has to happen regardless. The Kentucky Republican defeated his first-ever challenger, Sen. Rick Scott, in a vote that ended 37-10.
If GOP lawmakers decided not to move forward with a special conference meeting, the issue of McConnell's health could be punted until after the 2024 election. However, such a meeting would draw more media attention and potentially amplify the risk of specifically broaching the sensitive topic of the senator's leadership.
Potential Replacement
Following Wednesday's incident, McConnell has been cleared to resume his "schedule as planned" after consulting with a medical professional. Congress' attending physician, Dr. Brian Monahan, said that he also conferred with the Senate Minority Leader's neurology team, according to Fox News.
Monahan evaluated the freezing incident and later cleared McConnell medically to continue his planned schedule. He added that occasional lightheadedness is not uncommon in concussion recovery, which could be expected due to dehydration.
If Republican lawmakers decide to replace McConnell, several GOP members could be in the running to take the position. One is Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, who challenges Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear in the gubernatorial race.
Cameron has long been considered an heir apparent to McConnell. If he loses his bid for governor, there could be talks of succession despite his connection to former United States President Donald Trump.
Another Republican to look out for is Agricultural Commissioner Ryan Quarles, who lost the primary against Camerin in the gubernatorial race last year. Former UN ambassador Kelly Craft is also a part of the conversation, said the New York Times.
