Mitch McConnell is in the headlines for being hospitalised and missing the Senate votes. Amid this, take a look at his relationship with his wife, Elaine Chao, who will support him in this tough time.
Mitch McConnell is a well-known American politician and attorney. He is currently serving as the senior United States Senator from Kentucky, a position he has held for over four decades. Reportedly, he is in his seventh Senate term and is the longest-serving senator Kentucky has seen to date. However, it is worth noting that throughout his political career, McConnell's health has been a topic of growing concern. Recently, the 83-year-old grabbed headlines for being hospitalised after experiencing “flu-like symptoms." The news, revealed by David Popp, a spokesperson for the Kentucky Republican, comes only months after he raised health concerns in October 2025, after falling down in the basement of a Capitol building when faced with a rather uncomfortable question about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Additionally, McConnell's hospitalisation led him to miss Senate votes on 1st and 2nd February 2026. According to Popp, McConnell's "prognosis is positive,” and he continues to maintain “regular contact with his staff and looks forward to returning to Senate business." Amid the senator being hospitalised, one person who will most likely be by his side is none other than his wife, Elaine Chao. The duo tied the knot in 1993 and have been a power couple ever since, especially with Elaine being the first Asian American woman to serve in a president's (Donald Trump) cabinet. If you are interested in learning about Mitch McConnell and his wife, Elaine Chao's decades-long marriage, keep on reading.
According to a New York Times report, Mitch McConnell befriended Stuart Bloch in the 1960s, when he was a Senate aide, and the latter was a liberal public-interest lobbyist. After maintaining a friendship for decades, Bloch invited McConnell to dinner in the early 1990s with his wife, Julia Chang. The trio were also joined by Elaine Chao, who came to the dinner as Chan's protégée. After their fateful meeting, McConnell and Chao started developing a relationship. It is worth noting that Bloch said the pair never showed they were attracted to each other on the night they first met.
Mitch McConnell and Elaine Chao had a small and intimate wedding at the chapel on Capitol Hill. When it came to their wedding date, however, it held special significance for both of them. A report by the Washington Post suggests that the couple chose February 6, 1993, as their wedding day for three reasons. The first and the most important reason is that it was the former President, Ronald Reagan's birthday. Secondly, it was just seven weeks before Chao's 40th birthday. And last but not least, it was just before a week-long Senate recess. Later, while giving a speech announcing his resignation as Senate Minority Leader, McConnell confessed that although “it's probably not the most romantic thing to admit, but Reagan meant a great deal to both of us.”
For their big day, Mitch McConnell and his wife, Elaine Chao, ditched the conventional wedding day attire. Pictures from the day show the senator in a dark suit with a navy blue and burgundy patterned tie. On the other hand, Chao chose to wear a hot pink blazer dress featuring black buttons, trim, collar, and cuffs.
Many might not be aware, but Mitch McConnell was previously married to Sherill Redmon before he wed his current wife, Elaine Chao. During their time together from 1968 to 1980, they welcomed three children, Elly, Claire, and Porter McConnell. However, in McConnell's marriage to Chao, they have not had any children over their 30 years of marriage. If reports are to be believed, although Chao doesn't necessarily regret her decision, she has acknowledged that her desire to succeed in her career might have been the reason she couldn't start a family with her husband. In an interview with CNN, she stated:
"I try not to have too many regrets. In my generation, we were taught that we can have it all...It doesn't work like that. So I try to counsel young women, regardless [of] whether they want it or not, there are tradeoffs and sacrifices in life."
The power couple, Mitch McConnell and Elaine Chao, often split household chores after their marriage, especially since both were on the rise in their careers at the time. In a 1998 interview with The Washington Post, the pair discussed which household tasks each was responsible for. Apparently, McConnell was the one who cooked dinner more often. However, it is worth noting that most of the time, McConnell and Chao dined either outside or at various political fundraisers. So, even if McConnell cooked more for the pair, he did so more for special occasions like Thanksgiving and so on. On the other hand, his wife, Chao, was in charge of household repairs.
According to reports, at the time, Elaine Chao earned USD 150,000, a salary higher than her husband's. On top of this, she also earned an additional speaking fee “in the five-figure range.” McConnell, who used to earn a USD 136,600 salary as a senator, jokingly told the outlet:
"That reminds me, I need to get my allowance."
What are your thoughts on Mitch McConnell and Elaine Chao's decades-long relationship? Let us know.
Also read: A Love That Endured: Ron Kenoly And Tavita's Journey Of Faith, Trials, And Lifelong Devotion