McConnell Stepping Down as Senate GOP Leader
This move comes as Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), 82, is the only member of GOP congressional leadership to not endorse former President Donald Trump.
By: Jackson Richman
February 28, 2024 (Updated): Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) will step down as Senate GOP leader in November, ending a record 17-year tenure at the helm.
This move comes as Mr. McConnell, 82, is the only member of GOP congressional leadership to not endorse former President Donald Trump, the GOP front-runner.
Under Mr. McConnell, the GOP was able to put its conservative imprint on the federal judiciary, including the U.S. Supreme Court that led to momentous decisions such as the overturning of Roe. v. Wade and deeming affirmative action unconstitutional. Mr. McConnell refused to have a hearing for Merrick Garland to succeed conservative justice Antonin Scalia, who died in 2016. Conservative Justice Neal Gorsuch ended up filling the seat.
Mr. McConnell has been in the Senate since 1985. He is up for reelection in 2026. It is publicly unknown if he will run again.
In response to a question from The Epoch Times in September, Mr. McConnell, who had recently experienced two “freezing” incidents in which he appeared unable to speak, said he had no plans to step down as senator or GOP leader.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
Source: The Epoch Times