Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell announced Wednesday he is stepping from Senate GOP leadership in November.
McConnell, 82, who served as GOP leader since 2007 announced the decision in a speech on the Senate floor.
“One of life’s most underappreciated talents is to know when it’s time to move on to life’s next chapter, so I stand before you today, Mr. President and my colleagues, to say this will be my last term as Republican leader of the Senate,” McConnell said.
The announcement comes months after the senate minority leader had two public episodes where he froze midsentence. The episodes were after he fell and suffered a concussion.
“As I have been thinking about when I would deliver some news to the Senate, I always imagined a moment when I had total clarity and peace about the sunset of my work,” McConnell added. “A moment when I am certain I have helped preserve the ideals I so strongly believe. It arrived today.”
McConnell said he plans to serve out his Senate term, which ends in January 2027, “albeit from a different seat in the chamber.”
An election will be held in November to replace him. Senate Minority Whip John Thune, of South Dakota, the No. 3 Republican Sen. John Barrasso, of Wyoming, and former GOP Whip Sen. John Cornyn, of Texas are expected to run for the position.
