Mitch McConnell

Mitch McConnell remains engaged with politics and is in an “improving position” following his prolonged absence from public view, according to conservative commentator Scott Jennings, who said the Kentucky Republican personally called him on Tuesday. Jennings said the 84-year-old senator discussed Republican electoral prospects and legislative issues during the conversation, while also indicating that McConnell hopes to return to the Senate when lawmakers reconvene in September.

Speaking on CNN’s The Arena, Jennings said McConnell called him directly from his own phone and appeared engaged and focused on politics. “He called me directly from his phone today,” Jennings said, adding that McConnell sounded noticeably better than during an earlier conversation following his hospitalisation.

According to Jennings, the conversation covered several political issues, including the Michigan Senate race, the broader Republican electoral map and the upcoming legislative agenda. He said McConnell also discussed the farm bill and the preservation of the Senate filibuster. “We talked a lot about the Michigan Senate race. We talked about Maine a little bit, talking about just the map in general,” Jennings said, describing McConnell as “really up on the campaigns”. He also said the senator remained interested in legislative matters that could come before the Senate later this year.

Jennings said McConnell had spoken with Republican Senator John Boozman of Arkansas about the farm bill and Senator John Curtis of Utah about preserving the filibuster. He added that McConnell had continued speaking with colleagues and staff while recovering away from Washington.

Jennings said he believed McConnell’s plan was to return when the Senate reconvenes on September 14. “I think their plan is to hopefully get him back to the Senate,” he said, while noting that several legislative issues remained important to McConnell before he leaves office in January.

McConnell has largely remained out of public view since suffering a fall at his Washington, D.C., home on June 14 that left him unconscious and resulted in hospitalisation. His office said last week that he had been discharged from a rehabilitation facility and was continuing his recovery at home.

The senator himself, however, has not publicly addressed Kentuckians or spoken extensively about his condition. That silence has fuelled questions over his recovery and whether he will be able to complete the remainder of his Senate term.

The continued absence has drawn criticism from Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, who has argued that McConnell should directly reassure his constituents. Beshear said he had not personally heard from the senator and questioned why McConnell could speak privately with allies but had not addressed the public.

“Listen, if he supposedly had a 17-minute conversation with Scott Jennings, he can call in and have a three-minute conversation with you,” Beshear previously told CNN. Beshear said McConnell could simply appear on camera and tell Kentuckians that he was doing all right.

Meanwhile, Kentucky Senator Rand Paul has also urged people to show patience as McConnell recovers. Speaking in Louisville on Tuesday, Paul said he had not spoken directly with McConnell but believed the veteran senator was working towards a return.

McConnell announced earlier this year that he would not seek re-election, meaning he is serving the final months of a decades-long Senate career. For now, Jennings’ account provides a glimpse of a senator who remains involved in political and legislative discussions while continuing his recovery away from public view.