Former Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell’s announcement last Thursday that he will not run for reelection in 2026 had us dipping into our archives.
And dipping into the inkwell. Which leads us to Capitol Ink. R.J. Matson’s satirical pen has been sketching the Kentucky senator for quite some time now, which makes sense since McConnell has been in Republican leadership for over 20 years.
So, McConnell and Capitol Ink have a long history together and here are just few of the more recent highlights.
“Still Standing,” from Oct. 4, 2018, skewers the extreme lengths that McConnell would go in order to get his Supreme Court nominees confirmed. This post inspired the GOP leader to send a congratulatory letter to Matson after he won the National Press Foundation’s Berryman Award for editorial cartooning in 2019. (R.J. Matson/CQ Roll Call)
“The Cowardly Lion of the Senate,” from Feb. 16, 2019, skewers McConnell after the House impeached President Donald Trump but Senate Republicans did not convict. (R.J. Matson/CQ Roll Call)
“Dirty Dancing,” published on April 13, 2021, makes fun of McConnell’s cozying back up to donors following the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. (R.J. Matson/CQ Roll Call)
“The Dugout,” published on Nov. 3, 2022, drew inspiration from a Norman Rockwell painting to sum up Team GOP’s midterm prospects. (R.J. Matson/ CQ Roll Call)
“Aesop Fabled,” published on Nov. 17, 2022, showcased McConnell’s prowess to slow and steadily win his races. (R.J. Matson/CQ Roll Call)
In “Office Buildings,” published on Feb. 29, 2024, Matson had some ideas following McConnell’s decision to step down from GOP leadership. (R.J. Matson/CQ Roll Call)
The post Capitol Ink and McConnell: Capping a unique relationship appeared first on Roll Call.
