Mitch McConnell, Longest-Serving Senate GOP Leader, Announces Retirement

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Updated 12:32 PM PDT February 28, 2024, by the Associated Press.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 28, 2024 -- Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced today that he is stepping down as the Senate Minority Leader after Republicans lost control of the chamber in the 2022 midterm elections. McConnell, who has served in the Senate since 1985, is the longest-serving Senate GOP leader in American history.

In a statement, McConnell said that he would remain in the Senate as a "backbencher" and continue to represent the people of Kentucky. He also thanked his colleagues for their support over the years and wished them well in the future.

McConnell's retirement is a major blow to the Republican Party. He has been one of the party's most influential figures for decades, and his departure from leadership will leave a void at the top of the GOP.

McConnell's decision to step down as Minority Leader is likely to have a significant impact on the 2024 presidential election. The Republican Party is already divided between its establishment wing and its more populist elements, and McConnell's departure could further exacerbate those divisions.