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McConnell Hospitalized After Fall, Senate Majority Drops to 52-47

7/15/2026

33 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Sen. Ron Johnson said photo might be outdated and posted a correction urging viewers to watch clip.
Sen. Mitch McConnell was hospitalized after June 14 fall and got pneumonia.
Doctors found no fractures, concussion, heart attack, stroke, tumor or bleed.
He will keep working on Senate business while he recovers.
Governor Andy Beshear asked McConnell for an update as the Senate majority fell to 52-47 after Sen. Lindsey Graham’s death.

History

Historical Context

After the 2000 election left the Senate dead-locked 50-50, Vermont Republican Jim Jeffords quit the GOP on May 24, 2001 and caucused with Democrats, turning the chamber Democratic-controlled for the first time since the 1994 Republican Revolution. His move, the only party switch to flip Senate control, foreshadowed later flips such as Arlen Specter’s 2009 switch.

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Story summary

Sen. Ron Johnson said photo might be outdated and posted a correction urging viewers to watch clip.
Sen. Mitch McConnell was hospitalized after June 14 fall and got pneumonia.
Doctors found no fractures, concussion, heart attack, stroke, tumor or bleed.
He will keep working on Senate business while he recovers.
Governor Andy Beshear asked McConnell for an update as the Senate majority fell to 52-47 after Sen. Lindsey Graham’s death.

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