Republican Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell announced he will not seek reelection Thursday.
McConnell, 83, led the Senate Republican conference for nearly two decades until he stepped down from his leadership post at the end of the last Congress. There was widespread speculation that the former Republican leader would retire following his decision to oppose several of President Donald Trump’s high-profile cabinet picks and advocate against the president’s America First views.
“Seven times, my fellow Kentuckians have sent me to the Senate,” McConnell said on the Senate floor Thursday. “Every day in between I’ve been humbled by the trust they’ve placed in me to do their business here. Representing our commonwealth has been the honor of a lifetime. I will not seek this honor an eighth time. My current term in the Senate will be my last.”
“Thanks to Ronald Reagan’s determination, the work of strengthening American hard power was well underway when I arrived in the Senate,” McConnell continued. “But since then, we’ve allowed that power to atrophy. And today, a dangerous world threatens to outpace the work of rebuilding it. So, lest any of our colleagues still doubt my intentions for the remainder of my term: I have some unfinished business to attend to.”
McConnell will continue to serve as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Defense subcommittee until his retirement, giving the former GOP leader a perch to advocate for his hawkish foreign policy views.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, McConnell’s successor as leader of the Republican conference, praised the Kentucky Republican’s four decades of public service in the Senate.
“Senator McConnell’s legacy is one of remarkable service to the Senate, the Commonwealth of Kentucky and our nation,” Thune said in a statement Thursday. “Over decades of tireless work, his mastery of Senate procedure, commitment to the institution and dedication to the rule of law have shaped the course of American governance for generations to come.”
“His leadership has strengthened the Senate’s role as a deliberative body and delivered historic achievements, from advancing the judiciary to championing Kentucky’s interests,” Thune added. “Senator McConnell’s contributions will remain a lasting reflection of his steady vision, determination and service to the country he loves.”
Republican South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, leader of the Senate GOP’s campaign arm, said McConnell’s replacement would be a “principled, America First conservative” in a statement Thursday.
Many Kentucky Republicans are expected to jump into the race to replace McConnell in 2026. Former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron announced his election bid following McConnell’s retirement announcement. Republican Kentucky Rep. Andy Barr said he was considering running for the open seat.
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