Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Mitch McConnell
How Mitch McConnell built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Addison Mitchell McConnell III is a prominent American politician and retired attorney, currently serving as the senior United States senator from Kentucky since 1985, making him the longest-serving senator in the state's history. He held the position of Senate Republican Conference leader from 2007 to 2025, with periods as both minority and majority leader. Notably, he holds the record as the longest-serving Senate party leader in U.S. history, specifically from 2015 to 2021 when he was the majority leader.
1937: Alben W. Barkley Led Democrats in Senate
From 1937, Alben W. Barkley led the Democrats in the Senate.
1949: Alben W. Barkley's Tenure as Democrats Leader Ended
In 1949, Alben W. Barkley's tenure as Democrats leader ended.
1968: Began Work as Legislative Assistant to Senator Marlow Cook
In 1968, McConnell began working as chief legislative assistant to Senator Marlow Cook in Washington, D.C.
1970: Continued Work as Legislative Assistant to Senator Marlow Cook
In 1970, McConnell continued to work as chief legislative assistant to Senator Marlow Cook in Washington, D.C.
1971: Returned to Louisville, Kentucky
In 1971, McConnell returned to Louisville, where he worked on Tom Emberton's unsuccessful campaign for governor of Kentucky.
October 1974: Appointed Deputy Assistant Attorney General
In October 1974, McConnell returned to Washington to fill a position as Deputy Assistant Attorney General under President Ford.
1975: Served as Acting Assistant Attorney General
In 1975, McConnell served as acting United States Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legislative Affairs under President Ford.
1977: Elected Jefferson County Judge/Executive
In 1977, McConnell was elected the Jefferson County judge/executive, defeating incumbent Democrat Todd Hollenbach III.
1981: Re-elected Jefferson County Judge/Executive
In 1981, McConnell was re-elected as the Jefferson County judge/executive against Jim "Pop" Malone.
1984: Elected to the U.S. Senate
In 1984, Mitch McConnell was elected to the U.S. Senate, marking the end of his tenure as Jefferson County Judge/Executive.
1985: Elected to the US Senate
In 1985, Mitch McConnell was elected as the United States Senator from Kentucky, beginning his long tenure in the Senate.
1997: Chaired the National Republican Senatorial Committee
From 1997, Mitch McConnell chaired the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
February 12, 1999: Voted to Convict Bill Clinton
On February 12, 1999, McConnell was one of 50 senators who voted to convict and remove Bill Clinton from office.
2001: End of Tenure as Chair of the NRSC
In 2001, McConnell's tenure as chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee ended.
2004: Bush's Reelection
In 2004, Democrats cooperation with the Bush administration helped Bush's reelection.
2006: Elected Senate Minority Leader
In 2006, after Republicans lost control of the Senate, they elected McConnell minority leader.
2007: Became Senate Republican Conference Leader
In 2007, Mitch McConnell became the leader of the Senate Republican Conference, marking the beginning of his leadership roles in the Senate.
June 2009: McConnell on Sotomayor Nomination
In June 2009, after Obama nominated Sonia Sotomayor as associate justice, McConnell argued Sotomayor's judicial record required lengthy review and advocated against hastening the confirmation process.
May 2010: McConnell on Kagan Nomination
In May 2010, after President Obama nominated Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court, McConnell expressed concerns about Kagan's independence and announced his opposition to her confirmation, citing her lack of forthrightness on constitutional law.
2010: Citizens United v. FEC Decision
In 2010, the U.S. Supreme Court issued the Citizens United v. FEC decision, partially overturning the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act. This decision followed McConnell's opposition to stricter campaign finance laws.
2013: Filibuster Eliminated for Most Presidential Nominees
In 2013, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid eliminated the filibuster for all presidential nominations except the Supreme Court.
2013: Federal government shutdown
The federal government shut down on October 1–17, 2013, after Congress failed to enact legislation to fund it.
2014: Became Senate Majority Leader
After Republicans took control of the Senate following the 2014 Senate elections, McConnell became the Senate Majority Leader.
2014: McConnell vowed Republicans would not force the U.S. to default on its debt
In 2014, McConnell vowed Republicans would not force the U.S. to default on its debt or shut down the government in 2014, when stopgap funding measures were set to expire. He also said he would not allow other Republicans to obstruct the budget-making process.
2014: Republicans Gain Control of Senate
In 2014, Republicans gained control of the Senate, and McConnell became majority leader, which he used to slow Obama's judicial appointments.
2015: Became Senate Majority Leader
In 2015, Mitch McConnell assumed the role of Senate Majority Leader, a position he held until 2021.
February 13, 2016: Antonin Scalia Death
On February 13, 2016, Supreme Court justice Antonin Scalia died, leading McConnell to announce the Senate would not consider any Obama nominee for the vacancy.
March 16, 2016: Obama Nominates Merrick Garland
On March 16, 2016, Obama nominated Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court. Under McConnell's direction, Senate Republicans refused to take any action on the nomination.
May 4, 2016: Endorsed Donald Trump for President
On May 4, 2016, McConnell endorsed presumptive nominee Donald Trump for president after initially endorsing Rand Paul.
August 2016: McConnell speech on Blocking Obama SCOTUS Nominee
In August 2016, McConnell said that one of his proudest moments was telling Barack Obama he would not fill the Supreme Court vacancy.
January 3, 2017: Garland Nomination Expires
On January 3, 2017, Merrick Garland's Supreme Court nomination expired due to Senate inaction under McConnell's leadership.
January 2017: Trump Nominates Neil Gorsuch
In January 2017, President Trump nominated Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court vacancy left after Scalia's death.
April 7, 2017: Gorsuch Confirmed After Filibuster Eliminated
On April 7, 2017, Neil Gorsuch's nomination to the Supreme Court was confirmed after McConnell eliminated the filibuster for Supreme Court nominees.
April 2017: Filibuster Eliminated for Supreme Court Nominations
In April 2017, Senate Republicans led by McConnell eliminated the filibuster for Supreme Court nominations in order to end debate on the nomination of Neil Gorsuch.
October 2017: McConnell blamed for stalling Trump's legislation
In October 2017, White House chief strategist Stephen Bannon and other Trump allies blamed McConnell for stalling the Trump administration's legislation. McConnell responded by citing Neil Gorsuch's Supreme Court confirmation as proof of Senate support for Trump's agenda.
2017: Record broken for circuit court judges confirmed
In 2017, the record was broken for the number of circuit court judges confirmed during a president's first year.
2017: Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Passed
In 2017, under McConnell's leadership, the Senate Republican majority passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
April 2018: McConnell calls Garland decision most consequential
In April 2018, McConnell called the decision to block Garland's nomination the most consequential decision of his public career.
June 2018: Longest-Serving Senate Republican Leader
In June 2018, Mitch McConnell became the longest-serving Senate Republican leader in U.S. history.
July 2018: Border wall funding delayed until after midterms
In July 2018, McConnell indicated that funding for the Mexico–United States border wall would likely have to wait until after the midterms.
July 2018: Trump Nominee Brett Kavanaugh
In July 2018, Trump nominated Brett Kavanaugh to replace the retiring Anthony Kennedy as an associate justice of the Supreme Court.
July 18, 2018: Senate Republicans break record for appeals court confirmations
On July 18, 2018, with Andy Oldham's Senate confirmation, Senate Republicans broke a record for largest number of appeals court judiciary confirmations during a president's first two years; Oldham became the 23rd appeals court judge confirmed in Trump's term.
October 2018: McConnell would not repeat his 2016 decision
In October 2018, McConnell said if a Supreme Court vacancy were to occur in 2020, he would not repeat his 2016 decision to let the winner of the upcoming presidential election nominate a justice.
December 2018: Senate Passes Bill Without Wall Funding
In December 2018, the Republican-controlled Senate unanimously passed an appropriations bill without wall funding.
December 22, 2018: Federal government shutdown begins
From December 22, 2018, until January 25, 2019, the federal government shut down when Congress refused to give in to Trump's demand for $5.7 billion in federal funds for a U.S.–Mexico border wall.
2018: Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act Passed
In 2018, the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act was passed by the Senate Republican majority under McConnell's leadership.
January 25, 2019: Government shutdown ends
From December 22, 2018, until January 25, 2019, the federal government shut down when Congress refused to give in to Trump's demand for $5.7 billion in federal funds for a U.S.–Mexico border wall.
November 5, 2019: McConnell comments on Trump Impeachment
On November 5, 2019, as the House began public hearings on President Trump's impeachment, McConnell expressed certainty about the trial's outcome, stating that, if it were held that day, Trump would not be removed from office.
December 14, 2019: McConnell Plans Trump Impeachment Strategy
On December 14, 2019, McConnell met with White House counsel Pat Cipollone and White House legislative affairs director Eric Ueland. Later that day, he announced he would coordinate Trump's impeachment trial strategy with the White House and asserted there was "no chance" of the Senate convicting and removing Trump.
December 17, 2019: McConnell Rejects Witnesses for Trump's Impeachment Trial
On December 17, 2019, McConnell rejected calls to call witnesses for Trump's impeachment trial, arguing the Senate's role was to judge, not investigate. He admitted to the media he was not an impartial juror and considered the trial a political process.
2019: McConnell Credits Himself for Judicial Vacancies
In a 2019 interview, McConnell credited himself for the large number of judicial vacancies created in the last two years of Obama's presidency.
March 2020: McConnell encouraged judges to retire before 2020 election
By March 2020, McConnell had contacted an unknown number of judges, encouraging them to retire before the 2020 election.
April 22, 2020: McConnell suggests states declare bankruptcy instead of receiving COVID-19 aid
Speaking on the Hugh Hewitt radio show on April 22, 2020, McConnell suggested that states should be able to declare bankruptcy instead of receiving additional COVID-19 aid funds. His comments were sharply criticized.
September 2020: McConnell announces Senate would vote on Trump's Supreme Court Nominee
In September 2020, after Ruth Bader Ginsburg died, McConnell announced the Senate would vote on Trump's nominated replacement.
2020: McConnell directed COVID-19 response packages
In 2020, McConnell directed Senate Republicans in negotiations for two COVID-19 response packages: the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020 and the CARES Act.
2020: McConnell refuses to recognize Biden's victory in 2020
In 2020, after Joe Biden defeated Trump in the election, McConnell initially refused to recognize Biden as the winner. While not repeating Trump's false voter fraud claims, McConnell avoided contradicting them, arguing Trump's right to challenge results, while celebrating Republican Senate and House wins.
January 12, 2021: McConnell reportedly supports impeaching Trump
On January 12, 2021, it was reported that McConnell supported impeaching Trump for inciting the January 6th Capitol attack, hoping it would help Republicans distance themselves from Trump.
February 13, 2021: McConnell Votes to Acquit Trump
On February 13, 2021, despite earlier reports suggesting he was open to impeachment, McConnell voted to acquit Trump, arguing it was unconstitutional to convict a former president.
May 28, 2021: McConnell votes against January 6th commission
On May 28, 2021, McConnell voted against the creation of an independent commission to investigate the January 6th United States Capitol attack, after seeking to organize Republican senators to filibuster it.
October 2021: McConnell helps pass debt ceiling extension
In October 2021, McConnell played a key role in extending the debt ceiling, convincing 11 Republicans to vote with Democrats. Without this action, the United States would have defaulted on its debts.
2021: Became Senate Minority Leader
In 2021, Mitch McConnell became the Senate Minority Leader after previously serving as Majority Leader.
February 28, 2024: Announced Stepping Down as Senate Republican Leader
On February 28, 2024, Mitch McConnell announced that he would step down as the Senate Republican Conference Leader in January 2025, while continuing to serve the remainder of his Senate term.
2024: McConnell steps down as Senate Republican leader in 2024
In 2024, McConnell stepped down as Senate Republican leader. John Thune was elected to succeed him after Republicans regained the majority in the 2024 U.S. Senate elections.
2024: Essay on American Power and Foreign Policy
In late 2024, McConnell wrote an essay reflecting on his current perspective of American power and the foreign policy missteps of past presidents.
January 2025: Steps Down as Senate Republican Conference Leader
In January 2025, Mitch McConnell is set to step down from his role as the Senate Republican Conference Leader, as announced in February 2024.
February 20, 2025: Announces Retirement from Politics
On February 20, 2025, which was his 83rd birthday, Mitch McConnell announced that he would not run for an eighth Senate term in 2026 and would retire from politics.
2025: End of Senate Republican Conference Leadership
In 2025, Mitch McConnell's tenure as the leader of the Senate Republican Conference concluded.
2026: Retirement from Politics
In 2026, Mitch McConnell is expected to retire from politics, as announced on February 20, 2025.
