Republican Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell, the former Senate Republican leader and the longest-serving leader in the history of the Upper House, announced on his 83rd birthday Thursday that he won't be seeking re-election in 2026. He has now become the latest Senator to announce his departure from the chamber of Congress.
McConnell addressed his colleagues in a speech on the Senate floor following his decision, which will bring an end to his four-decade career in the post.
"Seven times, my fellow Kentuckians have sent me to the Senate," McConnell said, as aides lined the back chamber and senators listened from seats. "Every day in between I've been humbled by the trust they've placed in me to do their business right 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."
With the announcement, McConnell becomes the third incumbent Senator— and first Republican— who has announced will not be seeking reelection.
Democratic Sen. Gary Peters of Michigan announced his retirement in late January. The announcement was a stunning surprise for his colleagues and pundits. The 66-year-old's unexpected decision came after just two terms in the Senate and posed a challenge for Democrats in Michigan during a turbulent period.
Likewise, Democratic Sen. Tina Smith of Minnesota shared she would not seek reelection in 2026 last week, despite being an early-favorite for the contest. In a video on social media, Smith noted that while she enjoyed her role, she is "ready to spend more time with my family," adding that her grandchildren and children moved to Minneapolis and that her father is turning 95 years old this summer.
The number of senators who have announced their retirements is on par with where it was at this point in the 2024 and 2020 election cycles, according to Ballotpedia. However, this number is less than it was at this point in the 2022 cycle and more than it was at this point in the 2018 cycle.
The recent announcements likely make it more difficult for Democrats to gain back control of the Senate during the midterms. Republicans currently hold a 53-to-47 advantage in the Senate, and Democrats are considered to have little opportunity to gain seats beyond those held by Senator Susan Collins of Maine and Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina.
McConnell, first elected in 1984, intends to serve the remainder of his term, which will end in January 2027. The Kentuckian has dealt with a series of medical episodes in recent years, including injuries sustained from falls and times when his face briefly froze while he was speaking.
McConnell supported Trump's presidential bids in 2016 and 2020. He made a crucial decision in early 2021 to vote to acquit him on impeachment charges of inciting an insurrection, even as he blasted Trump as "practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of the day," calling his actions a "disgraceful dereliction of duty." He would then go on to endorse Trump again in 2024 after clinching the Republican nomination.
The Senator's departure reflects the changing dynamics of the Trump-led GOP. McConnell has seen his power diminish on a parallel track with both his health and his relationship with Trump, who once praised him as an ally but has taken to criticizing him in caustic terms. The Kentuckian gave up his party's leadership position in the Senate this January as the new Congress was sworn in.
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