Mitch McConnell announces he will not run for reelection

Republican Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell is expected to announce he will not seek reelection Thursday morning, according to multiple reports.

McConnell, 83 years-old, led the Senate Republican conference for decades until he stepped down at the end of the last Congress. There was widespread speculation that the former Republican leader would retire following his decision to oppose several of President Donald Trump’s high-profile cabinet picks.

McConnell will continue to serve as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Defense subcommittee until his retirement, giving the former GOP leader a perch to push back against Trump’s foreign policy agenda.

Many Kentucky Republicans are expected to jump into the race to replace McConnell in 2026.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated.

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