The republican side of the US Senate will be getting a new leader for the first time in two decades. The longest-serving leader in US Senate history will call it quits in November, as Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is set to step down from leadership and retire at the end of his current term.
Mitch McConnell, the longest-serving Senate leader in history who maintained his power in the face of dramatic convulsions in the Republican Party for almost two decades, will step down from that position in November.
McConnell, who turned 82 last week, was set to announce his decision Wednesday in the well of the Senate, a place where he looked in awe from its back benches in 1985 when he arrived and where he grew increasingly comfortable in the front row seat afforded the party leaders.
“One of life’s most underappreciated talents is to know when it’s time to move on to life’s next chapter,” he said in prepared remarks obtained by The Associated Press. “So I stand before you today … to say that this will be my last term as Republican leader of the Senate.”
His decision punctuates a powerful ideological transition underway in the Republican Party, from Ronald Reagan’s brand of traditional conservatism and strong international alliances, to the fiery, often isolationist populism of former President Donald Trump.
McConnell said he plans to serve out his Senate term, which ends in January 2027, “albeit from a different seat in the chamber.” Aides said McConnell’s announcement about the leadership post was unrelated to his health. The Kentucky senator had a concussion from a fall last year and two public episodes where his face briefly froze while he was speaking.
“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 said in his prepared remarks. “A moment when I am certain I have helped preserve the ideals I so strongly believe. It arrived today.”
While I can’t say I’m sad to see him go – I wonder who will replace him in this toxic environment. Particularly if Trump wins.Report
Thune, then Barrasso, then Ernst. Ernst is the most popular among Trump fans. I’d consider Thune unchallengeable though.Report
Rick Scott??? I’ve heard his name thrown out but no idea if that’s plausible.Report
He’s not young, and he’s not in Senate leadership. He’s up for reelection this year and has never won comfortably, so I imagine he’ll be too busy campaigning in Florida to be campaigning on Capitol Hill.Report
That makes sense. Not sure anybodies age matters much in DC though.Report
Yeah, I guess there’s a Senate version of dog years or something. Maybe I’m just thinking that I personally wouldn’t want to start a new job in my 70’s. I don’t know about Barrasso, but I think Thune and Ernst have enough fire in their bellies to want the job. Scott, I don’t know.Report
The only person throwing out Rick Scott’s name is Rick ScottReport
If Trump gets reelected he will want Ernst. Or someone equally loyal.Report
I think he would (although in the back of my mind I think Ernst may have crossed him on something). But the Senate has felt no obligation to follow the presidents’ lead on things like this. Follow the people’s lead, yes, but not the presidents’.Report
yes well the House tanked border and national security legislation on Trump’s orders a couple of weeks ago, so I don’t think precedent matters.Report
Congress has often followed the president or presidential candidate’s lead on legislation, but not on leadership.Report
Liz Cheney would like a word.Report
Liz Cheney picked multiple fights with her fellow congressmen.Report
Liz Cheney voted with/for Trump or Trump aligned legislation something like 94% of the time until January 6th. Even after that she was way more supportive of the Trumpian wing then not.
She also told the truth about trump. That is the thing that got her tossed. Not supporting Trump. Or spreading his lies.Report
She told the truth about Trump, and he wanted her removed, then the House Republican Conference voted to keep her in position 145-61. Then four months later they voted to remove her. So it wasn’t her speaking the truth about Trump that got her removed, it was her alienating her colleagues for four months.Report
What was she doing during those four months?
Pepperidge Farm remembers.Report
Ideally the party’s leader has a secure seat, strong fundraising abilities, and a good eye for political and parliamentary strategy. Not sure about the inside baseball stuff, but someone like John Thune seems ideal: that seat is his as long as he wants it, he has good petrochemical industry contacts for $$$ to spread around, and has been in the Senate long enough and quietly enough to have figured out its inner workings.Report
Wants to spend more time back in KY at the ol’ swimmin hole.Report
If someone says it’s not his health, then it’s his health.
He wants a hand in picking the next guy and if he stays until he dies he can’t do that.
Witness RGB.Report