{"id":2404679,"date":"2025-02-20T12:43:00","date_gmt":"2025-02-20T17:43:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/breaking-sen-mitch-mcconnell-to-announce-retirement\/"},"modified":"2025-02-20T12:44:13","modified_gmt":"2025-02-20T17:44:13","slug":"breaking-sen-mitch-mcconnell-to-announce-retirement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/breaking-sen-mitch-mcconnell-to-announce-retirement\/","title":{"rendered":"Breaking: Sen. Mitch McConnell to Announce Retirement"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">14<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fbreaking-sen-mitch-mcconnell-to-announce-retirement%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2404679&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Republican Senator Mitch mcconnell \u2063announced on his 83rd birthday that\u2062 he will not seek re-election next year, marking the \u2062end of his long career in Washington, D.C., \u200cwhere he has served sence 1985. This decision comes less than a year after he <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fla-gov-desantis-announces-plan-to-work-with-publix-pharmacy-to-distribute-covid-19-vaccine\/\" title=\"Fla. Gov. DeSantis announces plan to work with Publix Pharmacy to distribute COVID-19 vaccine\">announced plans<\/a> to step down from his leadership role following the 2024 elections.McConnell expressed gratitude\u200b for\u200c the trust his constituents in\u200d kentucky\u200c have placed in him, stating that \u2062serving as their representative has been an honor. He intends to complete his current term, which ends in January 2027. mcconnell has \u2063faced\u200b several health challenges in \u2062recent years but remains committed to finishing his responsibilities in the senate. His retirement will\u2062 lead to\u200c a competitive GOP primary\u200c for his \u2064senate seat, as he has been a significant\u200d figure \u2064in Kentucky politics and federal funding matters. McConnell&#8217;s wife, Elaine Chao, is also \u200ba\u200d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/twitter-trending-minimizes-heroic-anti-tyranny-cuban-protests-people-helping-to-spread-awareness-of-covid-impact\/\" title=\"Twitter Trending Minimizes Heroic Anti-Tyranny Cuban Protests: People \u2018Helping To Spread Awareness\u2019 Of COVID Impact\">notable political figure<\/a>, and he acknowledged her support in his remarks.\u2062 He concluded with a reaffirmation of the Senate&#8217;s importance despite his critics.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell is announcing on Thursday that he won&rsquo;t seek re-election next year, ending a decades-long tenure in Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/watch-mitch-mcconnell-brutally-booed-rnc-crowd-makes-voices-heard-huge-trump-win\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">McConnell<\/a>, the longest-serving Senate party leader in U.S. history, chose his 83rd birthday to  his decision not to run for another term in Kentucky and to retire when his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-to-headline-north-carolina-gop-convention-this-summer\/\" title=\"Trump To Headline North Carolina GOP Convention This Summer\">current term ends<\/a>. He has been serving in the Senate since 1985.&nbsp; He informed The Associated Press of his decision before he was set to address colleagues in a speech on the Senate floor.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Seven times, my fellow Kentuckians have sent me to the Senate,&rdquo; McConnell said in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/exclusive-trump-at-georgia-rally-a-vote-for-rino-brian-kemp-is-a-vote-for-stacey-abrams\/\" title=\"Exclusive \u2014 Trump at Georgia Rally: A Vote for \u2018RINO Brian Kemp\u2019 Is a \u2018Vote for Stacey Abrams\u2019\">prepared remarks provided<\/a> in advance to the AP. &ldquo;Every day in between I&rsquo;ve been humbled by the trust they&rsquo;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.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>McConnell intends to serve the remainder of his term ending in January 2027. The Kentuckian has dealt with a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/mitch-mcconnell-suffers-multiple-falls-capitol-requires-assistance-fellow-senators-report\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">series<\/a> of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/breaking-mitch-mcconnell-injured-in-senate-fall-possibly-bleeding-emts-on-site\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">medical episodes<\/a> in recent years, including injuries sustained from falls and times when his face <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/gop-senator-provides-update-mitch-mcconnell-scary-freeze-ups\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">briefly froze<\/a> while he was speaking.<\/p>\n<p>The senator plans to deliver his speech in a chamber the famously taciturn McConnell revered as a young intern long before joining its back benches as a freshman lawmaker in the mid-1980s. His dramatic announcement comes almost a year after his decision to relinquish his leadership post after the November 2024 election. South Dakota Sen. John Thune, a top McConnell deputy, replaced him as majority leader.<\/p>\n<p> <script type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\tif ( getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"stnvideo\").remove() \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p>In Kentucky, McConnell&rsquo;s departure will mark the loss of a powerful advocate and will set off a competitive GOP primary next year for what will now be an open Senate seat. Kentucky Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear, seen as a rising star in his party, has said he has no interest in the Senate, though he is widely viewed as a contender for higher office.<\/p>\n<p>McConnell, the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">longest-serving senator<\/a> ever from Kentucky, ensured that the Bluegrass State received plenty of federal funding. Back home he was a key architect in his party&rsquo;s rise to power in a state long dominated by Democrats.<\/p>\n<p>He is married to Elaine Chao, and they have long been a power couple in Washington. In his prepared remarks Thursday, the senator referred to her as his &ldquo;ultimate teammate and confidante.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>McConnell&rsquo;s parting words reflected his devotion to the Senate and his disdain for his detractors.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The Senate is still equipped for work of great consequence,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;And, to the disappointment of my critics, I&rsquo;m still here on the job.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-style: italic;\">The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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On his 83rd birthday, he revealed his decision to retire at the end of his current term. McConnell has been in the Senate since 1985 and is the longest-serving party leader in U.S. history. He shared this news with The Associated Press before addressing his colleagues on the Senate floor, expressing gratitude for the trust Kentuckians have placed in him over seven terms. He plans to complete his term until January 2027 but has faced health challenges recently, including falls and temporary facial paralysis while speaking. His announcement comes nearly a year after stepping down from leadership following the November 2024 elections, with South Dakota Senator John Thune succeeding him as majority leader. McConnell&#8217;s exit will create an open Senate seat and a competitive GOP primary in Kentucky; however, Democratic Governor Andy Beshear has indicated he is not interested in running for it despite being seen as a potential candidate for higher office. Throughout his tenure, McConnell was instrumental in securing federal funding for Kentucky and played a significant role in shifting political power within the state from Democrats to Republicans. He acknowledged his wife Elaine Chao as an essential partner during this time and emphasized that he remains committed to serving until the end of his term despite criticism from opponents<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2404680,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/585880da6fb1456782006df012d7866d-scaled.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[34365,5894,7620,3740],"class_list":["post-2404679","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-mitch-mcconnell","tag-politics","tag-retirement","tag-senate"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/585880da6fb1456782006df012d7866d-scaled.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2404679","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2404679"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2404679\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2404683,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2404679\/revisions\/2404683"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2404680"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2404679"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2404679"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2404679"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}