The Republican leader was silent for more than 30 seconds after being asked if he will run for re-election. He froze at a news conference in July.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell appeared to freeze again Wednesday, this time during a gaggle with reporters in Covington, Kentucky, stopping for more than 30 seconds after he was asked if he would run for re-election.

The Kentucky Republican froze in July at a news conference on Capitol Hill, going silent for 19 seconds before being escorted away from the cameras. McConnell, 81, returned shortly afterward and continued his news conference, telling reporters, “I’m fine.”

When it became apparent that McConnell had frozen again on Wednesday, an aide came up to him and asked, “Did you hear the question, senator?” McConnell continued to be unresponsive.

  • mosiacmango@lemm.ee
    21·
    1 year ago

    McConnell is effective because of his tenure. A new Kentucky senator is still likely to be a fuck stick, but they probably wont be so brutal.

    On a positive note, Kentucky does have a democrat Governor, so it does occasionally fall in the “Montana/Wisconsin split statewide seats” vote. A dem senator is slightly possible.

    • ziggurism@lemmy.worldEnglish
      14·
      1 year ago

      They’ve been planning for this eventuality. The state legislature passed a law requiring the governor to appoint someone of the same party.

      • mosiacmango@lemm.ee
        2·
        1 year ago

        Of course they did, which will give that person an “incumbent” boost before their actual election.

        Anything to tip the scales. I guarantee they would repeal that law if they had a dem governor and a dem senator.

        • ziggurism@lemmy.worldEnglish
          2·
          1 year ago

          I guess a guy who would block a POTUS’s constitutional task to appoint a SCOTUS justice would not be above doing the same thing to a dem Kentucky governor over a senate seat.

    • ButtholeAnnihilator@lemmy.world
      4·
      1 year ago

      Mitch actually won the seat over a long time democrat. At the time he was considered an insane longshot but he had aid from Rodger Ailes. McConnell ended up winning in an upset.