Barr, Comer and agricultural advocates expect McConnell to vote on farm bill

Hannah Pinski, Lexington Herald-Leader on Sep 9, 2026

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Sen. Mitch McConnell’s monthslong absence created a roadblock to passing a new farm bill in Congress — a piece of legislation agriculture advocates say McConnell has championed throughout his career.

As the timing of McConnell’s return remains unclear, some Kentucky politicians and agricultural groups anticipate Kentucky’s senior senator will cast a critical vote on the farm bill when the Senate comes back Sept. 14. The farm bill is a sweeping package that dictates agricultural, nutrition and rural development policy.

McConnell, 84, was hospitalized June 14, and his office shared July 27 that he was being treated for a fall and slight case of pneumonia. While McConnell was discharged from a rehabilitation center Aug. 6 and is continuing his recovery and physical therapy at home, he has not specified when he will return to the Senate.

A spokesperson from McConnell’s office said there are no scheduling announcements for McConnell as of Sept. 9.

Before the Senate took its August recess, the Senate Agriculture Committee held its markup of the farm bill, but failed to pass it out of committee. Republicans hold a razor-thin majority in the Senate, and the GOP did not have enough support without McConnell’s vote or backing from Democrats.

Meanwhile, Democrats refused to budge because Republicans did not meet their demand for a two-year delay for states to start sharing the cost of providing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, according to reporting from Politico.

Nikki Whitaker, director of operations and policy for the Kentucky Cattleman’s Association, told the Herald-Leader the farm bill contains important policy for Kentucky and the organization, including expanding the state’s small and local meat processors and veterinary access.

“The passing of the farm bill is very important because Kentucky is a very rural and agriculture-centered state, and cattle is a huge part of it,” Whitaker said. “In the farm bill as it’s currently written in the Senate, there’s a lot of great things.”

While Whitaker expects McConnell to return to the Senate in September because the bill is important to him, she believes the bill will still need bipartisan support to pass.

“He is a great advocate for Kentucky agriculture,” Whitaker said. “I think sometimes that doesn’t get the credit that he deserves for how much he has done for Kentucky agriculture, and we wish him the best in his return back to the Senate. But regardless, I think it’s that bipartisan support of when they get back, and everybody can get down to business in getting this bill passed and moved forward.”

The current farm bill expires at the end of September. Throughout his tenure in the Senate, McConnell has typically spearheaded passing the farm bill, which is typically renewed every five years.

Some lawmakers also believe McConnell will return this month.

U.S. Rep. James Comer, a Republican who represents Kentucky’s 1st Congressional District, told WHAS11 at the annual Kentucky Country Ham Breakfast and Auction Aug. 27 the farm bill is something McConnell has always been involved in, so he’ll want to cast a vote.

U.S. Rep. Andy Barr, a Republican running against Democratic candidate Charles Booker in the race to replace McConnell, also told WHAS11 he and Senate Majority Leader John Thune “expect him to be back in the Senate giving that critical vote in September.”

Myrisa Christy, executive director for the Community Farm Alliance, told the Herald-Leader the bill strengthens the local food system and updates the pricing structure and safety net programs for farmers. The group is based in Berea, Kentucky, and supports family-scale farmers and local food systems.

“The farm bill has become the way that we get a lot of new things done in agriculture and the way that we set programmatic direction in agriculture,” Christy said. “Are we going to work on conservation programs? Are we going to work on supporting small midsized family farms, not corporately owned farms... Are we going to try to decrease farm consolidation? The farm bill has traditionally been a place where all of that is set.”

Christy doesn’t believe the bill will advance out of committee without McConnell’s vote but is also still concerned if it will make it through the entire legislative process.

“Even if he returns to committee, my concern is in the current wording, it will not pass without changes to SNAP,” Christy said. “If compromise isn’t made on the issue, I don’t think (Republicans are) going to get enough Democrats to get on it in the Senate even if McConnell returns and is able to vote to get it out of committee, because it’s gotta get out of committee first.”