Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell’s recent hospitalization is creating an additional hurdle for GOP legislative priorities, particularly the stalled SAVE Act, signaling fresh complications for Republican leaders ahead of key votes.
McConnell, 83, was admitted to a Washington-area hospital Monday night after experiencing flu-like symptoms, his office said, and is being evaluated as a precaution. A spokesperson said his prognosis is positive and he remains in contact with his staff, but the absence follows previous health concerns and adds uncertainty to Senate operations.
The senator, who served as Senate Republican leader for nearly two decades before stepping down in 2024 and has said he will not seek re-election in 2026, missed votes early in the week while hospitalized.
McConnell’s position as chair of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee has made his presence central to advancing key GOP measures, including the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which aims to tighten verification requirements for voter registration in federal elections. The legislation has languished in committee, and McConnell’s temporary absence is expected to delay further movement.
On the same day that McConnell was admitted to the hospital, Rep. Brandon Gill (R-Texas) joined 34 of his Republican colleagues in sending a formal request to him.
Their letter urged McConnell to hold a committee markup session and advance the bill toward a full Senate vote before the midterm elections next year. Gill also shared polling data on social media to emphasize their point.
“83% of Americans want proof of citizenship to vote, yet the Senate has done nothing for 300 days,” he posted. “The House did its job. The Senate needs to do theirs.”
My colleague, @SenAshleyMoody, nails it with this message:
Return to Senate tradition
Require filibustering senators to (gasp) actually speak
Using existing Senate rules
Pass the SAVE America Act https://t.co/L2WFN3o0CZ pic.twitter.com/rgk6oUJgeL
— Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) February 4, 2026
I just sent a letter to Mitch McConnell asking his committee to stop stalling the SAVE Act.
⁰83% of Americans want proof of citizenship to vote, yet the Senate has done nothing for 300 days.The House did its job. The Senate needs to do theirs. pic.twitter.com/n4ynOgVaBL
— Congressman Brandon Gill (@RepBrandonGill) February 2, 2026
“On showing a photo I.D. to vote, the American people are with Nicki Minaj. What are we talking about here? So, take a look here,” he said during a segment discussing the polling results.
“‘Favor voter I.D. to vote.’ Look, I’ve got all this polling on the screen going back since 2018. You’ll notice on all of it, it’s all north of 75 percent, 76 percent, 76 percent, 76 percent, 81 percent, and then 83 percent in the last year of Americans agree with Nicki Minaj, they favor photo I.D. to be able to vote.”
