Challenges Faced by Mitch McConnell: Obstacles and Turning Points

Life is full of challenges, and Mitch McConnell faced many. Discover key struggles and how they were overcome.

Addison Mitchell McConnell III is a prominent American politician and attorney currently serving as the senior United States Senator from Kentucky since 1985. He holds the distinction of being Kentucky's longest-serving senator. Notably, McConnell served as the leader of the Senate Republican Conference from 2007 to 2025, holding positions as both minority and majority leader. His tenure as Senate party leader from 2015 to 2021 marks him as the longest-serving Senate party leader in U.S. history.

Sections (7)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

1944: Polio Attack

In 1944, at the age of two, Mitch McConnell's upper left leg was paralyzed by a polio attack. He received treatment at the Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation.

June 2009: McConnell on Sotomayor Nomination

In June 2009, after Barack Obama nominated Sonia Sotomayor as associate justice, Mitch McConnell and Jeff Sessions stated Sotomayor's 17 years as a federal judge and over 3,600 judicial opinions would require lengthy review and advocated against Democrats hastening the confirmation process.

May 2010: McConnell Comments on Kagan Nomination

In May 2010, after President Obama nominated Elena Kagan to succeed John Paul Stevens, Mitch McConnell said Americans wanted to ensure Kagan would be independent of White House influence and noted Obama had called Kagan a friend, before announcing his opposition to her confirmation.

2012: Low approval rating in 2012 poll

In 2012, a poll found that McConnell had the lowest home-state approval rating of any sitting senator at the time.

2013: Federal Government Shutdown

The federal government shut down on October 1–17, 2013, after Congress failed to enact legislation to fund it.

2014: McConnell Becomes Senate Majority Leader and Blocks Judicial Appointments

In 2014, after Republicans gained control of the Senate, Mitch McConnell became majority leader. He used his power to initiate a near blockade of Obama's judicial appointments, leading to a historically low number of confirmed judges during Obama's final two years.

February 13, 2016: McConnell Refuses to Consider Obama's Supreme Court Nominee

On February 13, 2016, following the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, Mitch McConnell issued a statement that the Senate would not consider any Supreme Court nominee put forth by President Obama, arguing that the American people should have a voice in the selection.

March 16, 2016: Obama Nominates Merrick Garland

On March 16, 2016, despite McConnell's statement that the Senate would not consider any Supreme Court nominee put forth by President Obama, Obama nominated Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court. Senate Republicans, under McConnell's direction, refused to take any action on the nomination.

May 2016: McConnell Disagrees with Trump on Judge Curiel

In May 2016, Mitch McConnell publicly disagreed with Donald Trump's suggestion that federal judge Gonzalo P. Curiel was biased because of his Mexican heritage, stating that Curiel was born in Indiana and that everyone in America came from somewhere else.

July 2016: McConnell Responds to Trump's Criticism of Khan's Parents

In July 2016, Mitch McConnell responded to Donald Trump's criticism of the parents of Humayun Khan, a Muslim-American soldier who was killed in Iraq, by stating that all Americans should value the patriotic service of those who defend the country.

October 7, 2016: McConnell Responds to Trump Access Hollywood Controversy

On October 7, 2016, in response to the Donald Trump Access Hollywood controversy, Mitch McConnell stated that Trump needed to apologize directly to women and girls everywhere and take full responsibility for his comments on the tape.

2016: Low approval rating in 2016 poll

In 2016, a poll found that McConnell had the lowest home-state approval rating of any sitting senator at the time.

January 3, 2017: Garland's Nomination Expires

On January 3, 2017, Merrick Garland's nomination expired, after Senate Republicans refused to take any action on the nomination.

October 2017: McConnell Defends Record Against Allegations of Stalling Trump's Agenda

In October 2017, after Stephen Bannon and other Trump allies blamed McConnell for stalling the Trump administration's legislation, McConnell cited Neil Gorsuch's confirmation to the Supreme Court to demonstrate the Senate's support for Trump's agenda.

2017: Highest disapproval rating of any senator

In 2017, McConnell had the highest disapproval rating of any senator, with a 49% disapproval rate.

2017: Approval rating underwater

In 2017, McConnell's approval rating had been underwater. The Morning Consult found that it was 44% positive and 47% negative.

2017: Failure to Repeal Obamacare

In 2017, Mitch McConnell's reputation as a skilled political strategist was questioned after Republicans failed to repeal the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) despite consolidated Republican control of government.

July 2018: McConnell delays border wall funding

In July 2018, Mitch McConnell stated that funding for the Mexico–United States border wall would likely be delayed until after the midterm elections.

September 2018: Ford Accuses Kavanaugh of Sexual Assault

In September 2018, Christine Blasey Ford publicly alleged that Brett Kavanaugh had sexually assaulted her in 1982. McConnell affirmed that Judge Kavanaugh will be voted on here on the Senate floor.

October 2018: McConnell States Intention on Supreme Court Vacancy in 2020

In October 2018, Mitch McConnell said that 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 22, 2018: Government shutdown begins

On December 22, 2018, the federal government shut down due to Congress's refusal to meet President Trump's demand for $5.7 billion in federal funds for a U.S.–Mexico border wall.

2018: Worst approval rating of McConnell

In the fourth quarter of 2018, McConnell had a 38% positive rating and a 47% negative rating among Kentuckians.

January 25, 2019: Government shutdown ends

On January 25, 2019, the federal government shutdown ended, which had started due to Congress's refusal to meet President Trump's demand for $5.7 billion in federal funds for a U.S.–Mexico border wall.

August 2019: Poll results released

Data from the end of July through August 2019 (7/31–8/27) showed McConnell had 23% favorable and 48% unfavorable (−25.0 spread).

September 2019: Approval rating underwater

In September 2019, the Morning Consult found that McConnell's approval rating had been underwater since the first quarter of 2017, when it was 44% positive and 47% negative.

November 5, 2019: McConnell Comments on Trump Impeachment

On November 5, 2019, as the House of Representatives began public hearings on the impeachment of President Trump, Mitch McConnell expressed certainty that an impeachment trial would not lead to Trump's removal from office.

December 14, 2019: McConnell Announces Coordination with White House on Impeachment Trial

On December 14, 2019, after meeting with White House counsel Pat Cipollone and legislative affairs director Eric Ueland, Mitch McConnell announced he would be in total coordination with the White House counsel's office and Trump's representatives for the impeachment trial, stating there was "no chance" of the Senate convicting and removing Trump.

December 17, 2019: McConnell Rejects Witnesses for Trump Impeachment Trial

On December 17, 2019, Mitch McConnell rejected a request to call four witnesses for Trump's impeachment trial, arguing the Senate's role was to judge, not investigate. He also stated he was not an impartial juror, calling the trial a political process.

September 10, 2020: COVID-19 relief bill fails in the Senate

On September 10, 2020, Mitch McConnell's pared-down COVID-19 relief bill failed to pass the Senate due to a Democratic filibuster. Democrats considered the bill "completely inadequate."

September 2020: McConnell Announces Vote on Ginsburg Replacement

In September 2020, after Ruth Bader Ginsburg died, Mitch McConnell announced the Senate would vote on Trump's nominated replacement.

2020: McConnell is least popular senator

In 2020, Susan Collins edged out McConnell as the least popular senator with a 52% unfavorable rating from Maine voters compared to 50% for McConnell.

2020: McConnell's Initial Response to Biden's Election Victory

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 claims of voter fraud, he also did not contradict them, arguing Trump had the right to challenge the results, and simultaneously celebrated Republican victories in Senate and House races.

January 12, 2021: Report of McConnell Supporting Trump Impeachment

On January 12, 2021, it was reported that Mitch McConnell supported impeaching Trump for inciting the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol, believing it would help Republicans purge Trump and rebuild the party.

February 13, 2021: McConnell Votes to Acquit Trump

Despite reports of initially supporting Trump's impeachment, on February 13, 2021, Mitch McConnell voted to acquit Trump, stating it was unconstitutional to convict a president no longer in office.

April 10, 2021: Trump Attacks McConnell

On April 10, 2021, Donald Trump publicly attacked Mitch McConnell, calling him a "dumb son of a bitch" and questioning whether McConnell had ever thanked him for hiring his wife. McConnell did not respond publicly to this attack.

May 28, 2021: McConnell Votes Against January 6th Commission

On May 28, 2021, Mitch McConnell voted against the creation of an independent commission to investigate the January 6 United States Capitol attack, after seeking to organize Republican senators to filibuster it.