He talked about waiting for a day when he would have total clarity about the end of his work.
“That day arrived today,” McConnell said.
McConnell said he intends to serve out the rest of his Senate term, which ends in 2027.
“I still have enough gas in the tank to thoroughly disappoint my critics, and I intend to do so with all the enthusiasm which they have become accustomed,” he said.
The Kentucky Republican, 82, had faced questions about his health for several months. Most recently, he abruptly froze and seemed unable to speak during two press conferences in July and August. In March, he fell during a dinner event at a D.C. hotel and spent five days in the hospital. His office said he received treatment for a concussion and spent about a week in inpatient rehab to also address a “minor rib fracture.”
McConnell’s legacy
During his tenure as the longest-serving Senate GOP leader, McConnell has helped to reshape the federal judiciary and the chamber itself. He is a frequent antagonist to Democratic presidents.
First elected to the Senate in 1984, McConnell was soon driven by a singular political ambition to become majority leader. A cunning tactician, he worked his way up the ladder, serving as Senate campaign chair and party whip before being elected minority leader in 2007. McConnell became majority leader after Republicans won control of the Senate in 2014, 30 years after he was first elected to the chamber.