History of Mitch McConnell in Timeline

Addison Mitchell McConnell III is a prominent American politician and attorney who has served as a U.S. Senator from Kentucky since 1985. He is the longest-serving senator in Kentucky history. McConnell held the position of Senate Republican Conference leader from 2007 to 2025, which included terms as minority leader. He was the Senate majority leader from 2015 to 2021, making him 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

1937: Alben W. Barkley Led the Democrats

From 1937 to 1949, Alben W. Barkley led the Democrats in the Senate. McConnell is the second Kentuckian to serve as a party leader in the Senate.

February 20, 1942: Mitch McConnell Born

On February 20, 1942, Addison Mitchell McConnell III was born. He is an American politician and attorney who has been serving as the senior United States Senator from Kentucky since 1985.

Others born on this day/year

1944: Polio Attack

In 1944, at the age of two, Mitch McConnell's upper left leg was paralyzed by a polio attack.

1949: Alben W. Barkley Led the Democrats

From 1937 to 1949, Alben W. Barkley led the Democrats in the Senate. McConnell is the second Kentuckian to serve as a party leader in the Senate.

1950: Moved to Augusta, Georgia

In 1950, when he was eight years old, Mitch McConnell moved with his family from Athens to Augusta, Georgia, where his father was stationed at Fort Gordon.

1951: Historical Context of Judicial Confirmations

The year 1951, was referenced to compare the number of judicial confirmations under President Truman, as a benchmark against which to assess the impact of McConnell's actions in later years.

1952: Historical Context of Judicial Confirmations

The year 1952, was referenced to compare the number of judicial confirmations under President Truman, as a benchmark against which to assess the impact of McConnell's actions in later years.

1956: Moved to Louisville, Kentucky

In 1956, Mitch McConnell's family moved to Louisville, Kentucky, where he attended DuPont Manual High School.

1963: Attended March on Washington

In 1963, Mitch McConnell attended the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, where Martin Luther King Jr. gave the "I Have a Dream" speech.

1964: Graduation from the University of Louisville

In 1964, Mitch McConnell graduated Omicron Delta Kappa from the University of Louisville with a B.A. in political science with honors.

1964: Civil Rights Rallies and Internship

In 1964, at the age of 22, Mitch McConnell attended civil rights rallies and interned with Senator John Sherman Cooper.

March 1967: Enlisted in U.S. Army Reserve

In March 1967, Mitch McConnell enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve as a private at Louisville before the expiration of his educational draft deferment.

July 9, 1967: First day of training at Fort Knox

On July 9, 1967, Mitch McConnell had his first day of training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, two days after taking the bar exam.

August 15, 1967: Honorable Discharge from U.S. Army Reserve

On August 15, 1967, Mitch McConnell was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army Reserve after being diagnosed with optic neuritis.

1967: Graduation from Law School

In 1967, Mitch McConnell graduated from the University of Kentucky College of Law, where he was president of the Student Bar Association.

1968: Chief Legislative Assistant

In 1968, Mitch McConnell began working as chief legislative assistant to Senator Marlow Cook in Washington, D.C.

1970: End of Role as Chief Legislative Assistant

In 1970, Mitch McConnell's time as chief legislative assistant to Senator Marlow Cook ended.

1971: Return to Louisville

In 1971, Mitch McConnell returned to Louisville, where he worked on Tom Emberton's unsuccessful campaign for governor of Kentucky.

October 1974: Deputy Assistant Attorney General

In October 1974, Mitch McConnell returned to Washington to fill a position as Deputy Assistant Attorney General under President Ford.

1975: Acting United States Assistant Attorney General

In 1975, Mitch 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, Mitch McConnell was elected the Jefferson County judge/executive, defeating incumbent Democrat Todd Hollenbach III.

1981: Re-elected Jefferson County Judge/Executive

In 1981, Mitch McConnell was reelected as the Jefferson County Judge/Executive against Jefferson County Commissioner Jim "Pop" Malone.

1982: Sexual Assault Allegation Against Kavanaugh

In September 2018, Christine Blasey Ford publicly alleged that Brett Kavanaugh had sexually assaulted her in 1982.

1984: Election to the U.S. Senate

In 1984, Mitch McConnell was elected to the U.S. Senate.

1985: Elected as Senator from Kentucky

In 1985, Mitch McConnell was elected as the United States Senator from Kentucky, a position he has held since.

1997: Chaired National Republican Senatorial Committee

In 1997, Mitch McConnell began chairing the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

February 12, 1999: Vote on Bill Clinton's Impeachment

On February 12, 1999, Mitch McConnell was one of 50 senators to vote to convict and remove Bill Clinton from office.

2001: End of Chairmanship of the National Republican Senatorial Committee

In 2001, Mitch McConnell's time chairing the National Republican Senatorial Committee ended.

2004: Learning the Value of Obstructionism

In 2004, Mitch McConnell learned that obstruction and Republican unity were the optimal ways to ensure Republican gains in upcoming elections after he observed how Democratic cooperation with the Bush administration on No Child Left Behind and Medicare Part D helped Bush's 2004 reelection.

2006: Elected Minority Leader

In 2006, after Republicans lost control of the Senate, they elected Mitch McConnell as minority leader.

2007: Senate Republican Conference Leader

In 2007, Mitch McConnell began serving as the leader of the Senate Republican Conference.

June 2009: McConnell on Sotomayor Nomination

In June 2009, after Barack Obama nominated Sonia Sotomayor as associate justice, Mitch McConnell and Jeff Sessions suggested her 17 years as a federal judge would require lengthy review and advocated against hastening the confirmation process.

May 2010: McConnell Comments on Elena Kagan Nomination

In May 2010, after President Obama nominated Elena Kagan to succeed John Paul Stevens, Mitch McConnell stated that Americans wanted to ensure Kagan would be independent of White House influence and announced his opposition to her confirmation due to her lack of disclosure on her views on basic principles of American constitutional law.

October 2010: Goal to Make Obama a One-Term President

In October 2010, Mitch McConnell stated that "the single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president."

2010: Citizens United v. FEC Decision

In 2010, Mitch McConnell led opposition to stricter campaign finance laws, culminating in the U.S. Supreme Court decision Citizens United v. FEC, which partially overturned the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (McCain-Feingold).

2010: Congress banned earmarks

In 2010, Mitch McConnell regularly obtained earmarks for businesses and institutions in Kentucky until Congress banned the practice.

2011: Debt-Ceiling Crisis

In 2011, during the debt-ceiling crisis, McConnell said he had learned that "it's a hostage that's worth ransoming".

2013: Filibuster Eliminated

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 from October 1-17, 2013 after Congress failed to enact legislation to fund it.

2014: McConnell Vows to Avoid Debt Default and Government Shutdown

In 2014, Mitch McConnell vowed Republicans would not force the U.S. to default on its debt or shut down the government when stopgap funding measures were set to expire.

2014: McConnell Lampooned for Campaign B-Roll Footage

In 2014, Mitch McConnell was satirized for posting campaign B-roll footage online for use by allied PACs, leading to the coining of the term "McConnelling".

2014: Republicans Gain Senate Control; McConnell Becomes Majority Leader

In 2014, Republicans gained control of the Senate, and Mitch McConnell became majority leader, initiating what was considered a near blockade of Obama's judicial appointments.

2014: Senate Majority Leader

In 2014, after Republicans took control of the Senate following the Senate elections, Mitch McConnell became the Senate majority leader.

2015: Senate Majority Leader

In 2015, Mitch McConnell became the Senate Majority Leader, a position he held until 2021.

2015: Time's 100 Most Influential People

In 2015, Mitch McConnell was listed as one of Time's 100 most influential people in the world, marking a significant recognition of his impact.

2015: McConnell Attends Beau Biden's Funeral

In 2015, Mitch McConnell was the only Republican to attend the funeral of Joe Biden's son Beau Biden.

February 13, 2016: Scalia Dies; McConnell Blocks Obama's Nomination

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

March 16, 2016: Obama Nominates Merrick Garland

On March 16, 2016, President Obama nominated Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court, but Senate Republicans, under Mitch McConnell's direction, refused to take any action on the nomination.

May 4, 2016: McConnell Endorses Donald Trump

On May 4, 2016, after Rand Paul withdrew from the presidential race, Mitch McConnell endorsed Donald Trump as the presumptive nominee.

May 2016: McConnell Disagrees with Trump on Comments About Judge Curiel

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

July 2016: McConnell Criticizes Trump's Comments About Humayun Khan's Parents

In July 2016, Mitch McConnell criticized Donald Trump's remarks about the parents of Humayun Khan, a Muslim-American soldier killed in Iraq, emphasizing that all Americans should value the patriotic service of those who defend the country.

August 2016: McConnell on Blocking Obama's Supreme Court Nominee

In an August 2016 speech in Kentucky, Mitch McConnell stated that one of his proudest moments was telling Barack Obama that he would not fill the Supreme Court vacancy.

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

On October 7, 2016, following the release of the Donald Trump Access Hollywood tape, Mitch McConnell stated that Trump needed to apologize directly to women and girls and take full responsibility for his disrespectful comments.

2016: Reference to 2016 Decision on Supreme Court Nominee

In October 2018, McConnell referenced his 2016 decision to block Obama's Supreme Court nominee, drawing a distinction based on which party controlled the Senate and presidency.

January 3, 2017: Garland Nomination Expires

On January 3, 2017, Merrick Garland's nomination to the Supreme Court expired with the end of the 114th Congress, due to the Senate's inaction under Mitch McConnell's leadership.

January 2017: Trump Nominates Neil Gorsuch

In January 2017, President Trump nominated Neil Gorsuch to fill the Supreme Court vacancy.

April 7, 2017: Gorsuch Nomination Confirmed After Filibuster Eliminated

On April 7, 2017, Neil Gorsuch's Supreme Court nomination was confirmed after Mitch McConnell eliminated the filibuster on Supreme Court nominees.

April 2017: Elimination of Filibuster for Supreme Court Nominations

In April 2017, Senate Republicans led by Mitch McConnell eliminated the filibuster for Supreme Court nominations in order to end debate on the nomination of Neil Gorsuch.

October 2017: McConnell Defends Record on Trump Administration's Legislation

In October 2017, after criticism from Stephen Bannon and other Trump allies regarding stalled legislation, Mitch McConnell cited Neil Gorsuch's Supreme Court confirmation to demonstrate the Senate's support for Trump's agenda.

2017: Failure to Repeal Obamacare

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

2017: Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Passed

In 2017, the Senate Republican majority under Mitch McConnell's leadership passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

2017: Record Broken for Circuit Court Judges Confirmed

In 2017, the record for the number of circuit court judges confirmed during a president's first year was broken. The previous record of 22 confirmations took place under President George H. W. Bush.

April 2018: McConnell Calls Garland Decision Most Consequential

In April 2018, Mitch McConnell described the decision not to act on Merrick Garland's Supreme Court nomination as "the most consequential decision I've made in my entire 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: Trump Nominates Brett Kavanaugh

In July 2018, Donald Trump nominated Brett Kavanaugh to replace Anthony Kennedy as an associate justice of the Supreme Court, and Mitch McConnell accused Democrats of creating an extreme distortion of Kavanaugh's record during his hearings.

July 18, 2018: Senate Republicans Break Appeals Court Confirmation Record

On July 18, 2018, with Andy Oldham's Senate confirmation, Senate Republicans broke a record for the largest number of appeals court judiciary confirmations during a president's first two years, totaling 23 judges confirmed in Trump's term. Mitch McConnell considered the judiciary confirmations to be the item with the longest-lasting impact on the country.

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.

October 2018: McConnell on Supreme Court Vacancy in 2020

In October 2018, Mitch McConnell stated 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, because Republicans controlled both the presidency and the Senate.

2018: Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act

In 2018, the Senate Republican majority under McConnell's leadership passed the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act.

August 2019: Opposition to Eliminating Filibuster

In August 2019, Mitch McConnell wrote an editorial for The New York Times strongly opposing the elimination of the filibuster on legislation.

November 5, 2019: McConnell Comments on Trump's Impeachment Hearings

On November 5, 2019, as the House of Representatives began public hearings on the impeachment of President Trump, Mitch McConnell stated that he was fairly certain how the impeachment trial would end and that it would not lead to removal from office.

December 14, 2019: McConnell Discusses Impeachment Trial Strategy

On December 14, 2019, Mitch McConnell met with White House counsel Pat Cipollone and White House legislative affairs director Eric Ueland, and later indicated he would coordinate Trump's impeachment trial strategy with the White House and that there was "no chance" the Senate would convict and remove Trump.

December 17, 2019: McConnell Rejects Calling Witnesses in Trump's 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 act as judge and jury, not to investigate, and stated he was not an impartial juror, calling the process political.

2019: Time's 100 Most Influential People

In 2019, Mitch McConnell was listed as one of Time's 100 most influential people in the world, marking a significant recognition of his impact.

2019: McConnell Credits Himself for Judicial Vacancies

In a 2019 interview, Mitch McConnell credited himself for the large number of judicial vacancies created in the last two years of Barack Obama's presidency.

March 2020: McConnell Encourages Judges to Retire

By March 2020, Mitch McConnell had contacted an unknown number of judges, encouraging them to retire before the 2020 election.

September 2020: McConnell Announces Senate Vote on Ginsburg Replacement

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

2020: Criticism of Trump's attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election

In 2020, Mitch McConnell criticized Trump's attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

2020: McConnell Refuses to Recognize Biden's Victory Initially

In 2020, after Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump in the election, Mitch McConnell initially refused to recognize Biden as the winner. While not repeating false claims of voter fraud, he also did not contradict them, asserting Trump's right to challenge the results, while simultaneously celebrating Republican victories in Senate and House races.

January 12, 2021: Report Surfaces of McConnell Supporting Trump's Impeachment

On January 12, 2021, it was reported that Mitch McConnell supported impeaching Trump for his role in inciting the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol, as he believed it would help the Republican party rebuild.

February 13, 2021: McConnell Votes to Acquit Trump in Second Impeachment Trial

On February 13, 2021, Mitch McConnell voted to acquit Donald Trump in his second impeachment trial, stating that it was unconstitutional to convict a president who was no longer in office.

April 10, 2021: Trump Attacks McConnell

On April 10, 2021, Donald Trump verbally attacked Mitch McConnell, calling him a "dumb son of a bitch" and questioning his gratitude for hiring his wife.

May 28, 2021: McConnell Votes Against Independent Commission for Capitol Attack

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.

October 2021: McConnell Helps Pass Debt Ceiling Extension

In October 2021, Mitch McConnell helped pass a bill that extended the debt ceiling by convincing 11 Republicans to vote with the Democrats, averting a potential U.S. default.

2021: Senate Minority Leader

In 2021, Mitch McConnell became the Senate Minority Leader.

2023: Time's 100 Most Influential People

In 2023, Mitch McConnell was listed as one of Time's 100 most influential people in the world, marking a significant recognition of his impact.

February 28, 2024: Announcement of Stepping Down as Senate Republican Conference Leader

On February 28, 2024, Mitch McConnell announced that he would step down as the Senate Republican Conference Leader in January 2025 but would serve the remainder of his Senate term.

2024: McConnell Steps Down as Senate Republican Leader

In 2024, Mitch McConnell stepped down as Senate Republican leader, months before the 2024 United States elections. John Thune was elected to succeed him after Republicans regained the majority in the 2024 U.S. Senate elections.