Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is finally calling it quits. The 83-year-old Republican stalwart from Kentucky, who has spent four decades in the Senate, announced he will not seek another term in 2026.

As reported by The Daily Beast, the news is expected to be delivered in a speech on the Senate floor, marking exactly one month since President Donald Trump returned to the White House.

Image Credit: © Jack Gruber-USA TODAY
July 10, 2024; Washington, D.C., USA; Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) are presented medals by Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, center, during a visit to the Russell Senate Office Building and meeting wtih a group of bipartisan Senators on July 10, 2024 in Washington, D.C. Mandatory Credit: Jack Gruber-USA TODAY

“It has been the honor of a lifetime,” McConnell will say, according to prepared remarks.

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“I will not seek this honor an eighth time. My current term in the Senate will be my last.”

McConnell has been a dominant force in Washington since he first took office in 1985. Just months ago, he stepped down as Senate Republican leader following the 2024 elections. With his departure, Rep. Andy Barr is already being floated as a top contender for his Senate seat.

McConnell’s decision to retire comes as his health has visibly declined. The senator, who overcame polio as a child, has faced increasing balance issues. In recent months, he suffered multiple falls, including two incidents at the Capitol, raising concerns about his ability to serve.

Beyond health concerns, McConnell has also found himself in the crosshairs of the current administration. His relationship with President Trump has been icy for years, and it hasn’t improved since Trump’s return to the Oval Office.

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McConnell has been a key opponent of several Trump-backed cabinet picks, voting against the confirmations of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard.

Love him or hate him, McConnell’s influence on the Republican Party is undeniable. He has long been known as a master of Senate maneuvering, using every political tool at his disposal to shape the judiciary, block Democratic overreach, and secure conservative victories.

While some within the party have praised his effectiveness, others have grown frustrated with his reluctance to fully embrace the America First movement championed by Trump.

Despite stepping away from leadership, McConnell’s departure from the Senate marks the end of an era. The GOP will now face the challenge of finding a successor who can both carry on the fight and align with the party’s evolving direction.

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