Mitch McConnell to retire?

Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Senate Minority Leader, is now the subject of speculation on his retirement, and leadership succession.

Mitch McConnell had a big fall…

Mitch McConnell has made no announcement yet of any plans to retire from the Senate. He did not face re-election last Midterms; his junior partner, Rand Paul (R-Ky.), won re-election easily. But he took a bad fall and landed in the hospital March 8.

He has been in inpatient rehabilitation since March 13.

We now learn that Senate Republicans are already preparing for a new leadership vote and some new assignments.

The Spectator reports that Senate Republicans are already reaching out to the very Senators who didn’t want him to continue as Leader after Midterms. Senators John Barasso (R-Wyo.), John Thune (R-S.D.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) have taken the lead in this planning. Senator Rick Scott (R-Fla.), who challenged McConnell for the Leadership, has emerged as a target of much courting by Cornyn and the others.

Mitch McConnell disappointed many by the poor Republican performance at Midterms. This led to a charge that he deliberately kept the Senate Republican Conference from growing, so he could remain Leader.

Update

Senator McConnell now denies any plans to retire.