Americans call for cognitive tests for elderly politicians after McConnell health worries
Americans call for cognitive tests for elderly politicians after McConnell health worries
Jack HobbsSun, July 26, 2026 at 12:38 AM UTC
0
Americans have sounded off about whether or not there needs to be an age limit or cognitive test when it comes older congressional leaders -Credit:Jack Hobbs
Several Americans have revealed that they would support a mental or physical test of older congressional members after the shocking death of Lindsey Graham and the disappearance of Mitch McConnell from the public eye.
Speaking to The Mirror U.S. on Friday, Marie King, 46, revealed she would support a universal test to ensure members of both the House and the Senate were fit to serve. "I think people should get a test done to make sure they're mentally sound because, to me, age is just a number and sometimes the older people are actually still with it."
When asked what age she thought the test should start, King stated it should be administered between 60 and 65. King, who also worked as a nurse, believed that the test should be administered to those in the Justice and Executive branches.
• Trump in panic as McConnell's absence throws Pentagon spending boost into chaos
• Republican offers worrying reply over Mitch McConnell's health as death rumors surge
King's husband, Aaron, also agreed to set an age limit but disagreed with the need to administer a test to ensure they could do their jobs. "I mean, they were elected into that position, so I mean, that should be enough," he explained, adding that 65 years old should be the limit for representatives.
Advertisement
Georgia native Brent Lunsford said that he also believed that it was "reasonable" to ask for an assessment. "Age may not be the perfect thing. Cognitive, that's kind of subjective," the 31-year-old engineer commented.
Marie King, a nurse visiting from California, said she fully supported a test for members across all three branches of government -Credit:Jack Hobbs
"So I do think there needs to be something just so that we know everyone's on the same playing field," he added. When asked what age he thought the test should be administered, Lunsford claimed "retirement. "
"Retirement age can mean something different for everyone," he noted. "But I think within reason, just how I would have to retire around 65, within a decade of that, I think is reasonable."
Frank Horna, 79, said that depending on what a person was running for, he would support a mental test. -Credit:Jack Hobbs
A woman named Christie said she believed McConnell was already dead, but Republicans were simply holding off on announcing it until the midterms. She, however, supports the idea of an age limit.
"I think there should be age limits. I'm not sure what the age would be, maybe 70." the 60-year-old stained glass artist said. "I mean, it's hard to say that it should be individual, but obviously it should, I guess. But 70 maybe. 75 maximum."
Aaron King agreed to set an age limit but disagreed with the need to administer a test to ensure they could do their jobs -Credit:Jack Hobbs
79-year-old Frank Horna said that while he supported some form of testing, he was not a fan of imposing an age limit. "Well, there's been some talk about after President Biden as to his mental state as to whether there should be some kind of cognitive test," the retired Army vet said.
"So maybe not necessarily an age, but maybe some kind of cognitive test," Horna said. The Missouri native said that no one past 80 should be serving or "few years before that, depending upon what they were running for."
Source: “AOL Breaking”
