McConnell said in a release that it was time to move on to the next chapter in life. Mitch McConnell announced Wednesday that he will step down as the party leader of the Senate in November.
Mitch McConnell has resigned as Republican leader. McConnell made his announcement shortly after noon at the Senate Well, where he had first arrived in 1985 and was stunned from the back benches. As he moved to the front of the Senate, he became more comfortable.
In his floor address, he said that “one of life’s most underappreciated abilities is knowing when to move on to life’s next chapter.” “I am standing here to announce this is my final term as Republican leader of the Senate.”
This dramatic decision is likely to lead to a leadership contest in the GOP conference. Several candidates are expected. The dramatic decision comes as Republicans become increasingly unhappy with McConnell’s handling of the bipartisan border legislation, and the national-security package that included aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan.
McConnell has also been at odds with Donald Trump, the former President and Republican Presidential frontrunner for 2024, who recently said, “I’m not sure that [McConnell] will be able to work with me.”
McConnell, who is no longer the GOP leader after 2019, plans to finish his current Senate term which ends in January 2027. According to Fox News Digital, sources close to the senator said that his health was not a factor in his decision. McConnell had a concussion in the past year following a fall. He also appeared to freeze twice when speaking to reporters.
McConnell said on the Senate floor: “As I thought about the moment I would deliver some news to Senate I imagined a time when I felt complete clarity and peace in regards to the sunset of my professional career. “A moment when I feel like I have helped to preserve the ideals that I hold so dear.” McConnell announced on the Senate floor that “it arrived today.”
McConnell said it was time for the “new generation” to lead the Senate.
Sen. John Barrasso (L-R) reaches out to help Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (RKY), who stopped talking and froze on the microphone following a meeting with Senate Republicans U.S. Capitol 26, 2023, in Washington DC. Also pictured is Sen.
The new guardian will take over this institution next year. “I’m confident that my conference is going to choose my successor and will move our country forward. ”
McConnell spoke with emotion. McConnell had dozens of employees in attendance. Standing ovations were given by many colleagues who were surprised at his comments.
He reflected upon the distinguished career that he has enjoyed and noted that the recent death of Angela Chao’s younger sister (his wife) had caused the “certain amount of introspection that comes with grieving.”
McConnell said, “Perhaps God is reminding you of the journey that your life has taken and to re-prioritize our impact on the future world we’ll all leave behind.” “I turned 80 this week. The end of my contributions is nearer than I’d like.”
McConnell fondly remembers the beginning of his Senate career, when President Reagan called McConnell “Mitch O’Donnell” on the Kentucky campaign trails. McConnell was elected to the Kentucky statewide elections in 1985, a state that at the time was reliably blue.
McConnell rose through the ranks in the decades following, becoming the Senate Rules Committee Chairman, then-Senate Majority Leader, and ultimately, in both the majority and the minority. He embraced Reagan’s vision of America being the world’s leading superpower, and protector of freedom and fought for it to become a reality. McConnell was the Republican Senator who advocated the most aid for Ukraine.
McConnell’s legacy as the majority leader of Trump’s first government was the confirmation of 162 district court judges to the federal bench.
Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., speaks to reporters following a closed-door lunch on policy in Washington.
In 2016, he played a crucial role when the Senate majority tried to block President Obama’s Supreme Court nomination Merrick Garland. McConnell played a key role in 2016 when the Senate majority worked to prevent President Obama’s Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland from receiving a hearing.
The ruling solidified the conservative majority on the Supreme Court of 6-3. Since then, conservatives won historic victories on gun rights and in overturning federal protections for abortion.
Hardliners may object that McConnell gives in too readily to Democrats during negotiations on the shutdown of government, and criticize Trump too harshly. In his leadership, McConnell has always been against excessive government regulations and tax increases.
McConnell’s lieutenants, John Cornyn and John Thune are all possible candidates. John Barrasso, or McConnell’s lieutenants John Cornyn (R-Texas), John Thune (R-S.D.
Florida Senator Rick Scott ran against McConnell for the GOP leadership in 2022 but lost by 37-10.
Several Republicans have praised McConnell’s leadership and his long career as a politician.
Mitch McConnell shocks Senate with surprise announcement.
Mitch’s tenure as Republican Leader has been long and honorable. Ted Cruz (R. Texas), who earlier this month called for McConnell to resign, expressed his gratitude for McConnell’s service. The confirmation of hundreds of constitutionalists to the federal judiciary is the most important.”
North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis has praised McConnell for his leadership on tax reform, coronavirus, and support for Ukraine.
He has always been a strong supporter of NATO and the freedom struggle in Ukraine against Russian aggression.”
Some people are not as kind.
Why wait? I asked for McConnell to resign over a decade before. We need new leadership now.
