Mitch McConnell put on notice by defiant Kentucky governor as major deadline looms

Amid lingering unanswered questions about Sen. Mitch McConnell's (R-KY) health, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear put the Senate Republican on notice Monday that all options remained on the table in the event of a Senate vacancy, despite state law to the contrary.

McConnell’s health has been the subject of intense speculation since his June hospitalization, which his office was slow to explain in detail. Weeks later, it was revealed that the Kentucky Republican was reportedly found unconscious in his home and administered CPR, leading some to speculate his condition was far more severe than initially claimed.

“I know there are a lot of folks wondering about the significance of August 3 regarding a potential Senate vacancy,” Beshear said in a statement published on social media. “I want everyone to know that this date has no legal impact on my options should there be a vacancy this year.”

Kentucky state law prevents Beshear from appointing an interim senator to fill a vacant Senate seat. Instead, a special election is required to be held in the case of a vacancy that occurs three months or more before an election. If a vacancy occurs less than three months away from the election, the seat is to remain vacant in the interim.

That deadline landed Monday, meaning that should McConnell’s seat be declared vacant before the end of the day Monday, a special election would be called.

It wasn't immediately clear what “options” Beshear was referring to given his inability to appoint an interim senator to McConnell’s seat should it be declared vacant. He did, however, offer context on the significance of McConnell’s months-long absence.

“Worth a reminder, right now, there’s one less vote for the SAVE Act, Trump’s war with Iran, or the potential replacement of a SCOTUS justice,” Beshear noted.