Senate Republicans preparing for McConnell's retirement: report

Senate Republicans are reportedly preparing for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to retire, after the Kentucky Republican took a serious fall last month and has yet to return to Capitol Hill.

Top-ranking GOP senators including John Cornyn, of Texas; John Thune, of South Dakota, and John Barrasso, of Wyoming, are reaching out to others in their conference to prepare for a leadership vote to replace McConnell, The Spectator reported Thursday.

Cornyn has been particularly active, according to one source who said he was holding lunch meetings with senators with him he has little in common – in an attempt to gain their support.

The leadership vote would occur if McConnell retires from his position as leader or from the Senate altogether. 

McConnell, 81, has served as the top Senate Republican since 2007, but during the most recent leadership election earlier this year, he faced opposition from 10 members of his own party. Those senators would likely play a key role in determining the next GOP leader.

McConnell sustained a concussion and fractured a rib when he tripped March 8 at a Senate Leadership Fund event at the Waldorf Astoria, previously known as the Trump Hotel, in Washington, D.C. 

He was discharged from the hospital to inpatient physical therapy.

Madeleine Hubbard is an international correspondent for Just the News. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram.