Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) stated on Thursday that Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is expected to return to the Senate when it reconvenes on September 14 after months away. Comer shared this information with a reporter, noting that while he had not directly spoken to McConnell, he was in regular contact with the senator’s staff. They confirmed that their goal is for McConnell to be present when the Senate returns from its summer recess. McConnell, 84, has not cast a vote since June 11. He was hospitalized on June 14 after falling in his Capitol Hill townhouse. Last month, he announced he had been discharged from a rehabilitation center, where he had been receiving intensive physical therapy following the incident. His long absence has raised questions about whether he will be able to complete the remaining months of his seventh and final Senate term. McConnell, who stepped down as Senate Republican leader in 2023, is not running for reelection in November. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear (D) has called for greater transparency regarding McConnell’s health. He has urged the senator to provide proof that he is mentally and physically capable of fulfilling the rest of his term. Meanwhile, several Republican senators have expressed confidence in McConnell’s ability to return to Congress. Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) described McConnell as “one of the toughest guys I've ever met,” and said he believes the Kentucky senator is making progress and will return. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) stated that a letter from McConnell’s physician and updates shared with fellow lawmakers were sufficient to inform the public about his condition. In the upcoming election, Rep. Andy Barr (R-Ky.), who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, will face Democratic nominee Charles Booker in the race for McConnell’s Senate seat in Kentucky. The seat has historically been a Republican stronghold, but the race has drawn significant attention due to the uncertainty surrounding McConnell’s return and the potential impact on the state’s political landscape.