Josh Hawley opposes McConnell's continued leadership of Senate GOP

Republican Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley on Wednesday became the first member of his conference to oppose Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's continued leadership amid speculation that the Kentucky Republican may not be well enough to serve.

McConnell has come under scrutiny in recent weeks over two high-profile freeze ups that many have speculated may be minor strokes or seizures. Capitol Hill attending physician Brian Monahan has cleared him to return to duty and opined that a concussion sustained from a prior fall or dehydration may be the source of the freezes. Kentucky GOP Sen. Rand Paul, an ophthalmologist, has questioned the diagnosis.

Hawley, however, is thus far the only Republican senator to argue that he ought to relinquish his leadership post. Speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill, the Missouri lawmaker stated that "[i]f you’re concerned about the president’s ability to do his job, and I am, and a lot of Republicans say they are, you have to be concerned when it’s somebody from your own party. I mean, it can’t be sauce for the goose but not for the gander."

"Is he able to do the job?" he added. "Do I think he should be Leader? No."

McConnell, for his part, has vowed to serve the remainder of his Senate term and to continue leading the Republicans in the upper chamber. His current Senate term will expire in early 2027.

"I’m going to finish my term as leader and I’m going to finish my Senate term," he told reporters this week.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.