History of Mitch McConnell in Timeline

Addison Mitchell McConnell III is a prominent American politician and retired attorney. He has served as a U.S. Senator from Kentucky since 1985, making him the longest-serving senator in the state's history. From 2007 to 2025, he led the Senate Republican Conference, holding positions as both minority and majority leader. Notably, he holds the record for the longest tenure as a Senate party leader in U.S. history (2015-2021).

Sections (7)

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

1937: Barkley Led Democrats

From 1937, Alben W. Barkley led the Democrats in the Senate.

1938: Lowest voter support for a Kentucky U.S. Senator in a primary since 1938

In 2014, The 60.2% won by McConnell was the lowest voter support for a Kentucky U.S. senator in a primary since 1938.

February 20, 1942: Mitch McConnell Born

On February 20, 1942, Addison Mitchell McConnell III was born. He is an American politician and retired attorney who has served 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, McConnell's upper left leg was paralyzed by a polio attack while living in Alabama, requiring treatment at the Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation.

1949: End of Barkley's Leadership

In 1949, Alben W. Barkley's time as the leader of the Democrats in the senate came to an end.

1950: Move to Augusta, Georgia

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

1956: Move to Louisville, Kentucky

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

1963: March on Washington

In 1963, 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 University of Louisville

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

1964: Civil Rights Involvement

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

March 1967: Enlistment in the U.S. Army Reserve

In March 1967, McConnell enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve as a private at Louisville to avoid combat during the Vietnam War. His educational draft deferment was about to expire.

July 9, 1967: First Day of Army Training

On July 9, 1967, two days after taking the bar exam, McConnell began his training at Fort Knox, Kentucky.

August 15, 1967: Honorable Discharge from Army

On August 15, 1967, McConnell was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army after being diagnosed with optic neuritis and deemed medically unfit for service shortly after arriving at Fort Knox.

1967: Graduation from Law School

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

1968: Legislative Assistant to Senator Cook

From 1968, McConnell worked as chief legislative assistant to Senator Marlow Cook in Washington, D.C.

1968: Marriage to Sherrill Redmon

In 1968, Mitch McConnell married his first wife, Sherrill Redmon.

1968: First Republican to win a statewide election in Kentucky

In 1968, Mitch McConnell was the first Republican to win a statewide election in Kentucky since 1968.

1970: End of Role as Legislative Assistant

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

1971: Return to Louisville and Political Activities

In 1971, McConnell returned to Louisville, worked on Tom Emberton's unsuccessful campaign for governor, was disqualified from running for state legislature, worked for a law firm, and taught political science at the University of Louisville.

October 1974: Deputy Assistant Attorney General

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

1975: 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, the top political office in Jefferson County, Kentucky, defeating incumbent Democrat Todd Hollenbach III.

1980: Divorce from Sherrill Redmon

In 1980, Mitch McConnell divorced his first wife, Sherrill Redmon.

1981: Re-elected Jefferson County Judge/Executive

In 1981, McConnell was re-elected as the Jefferson County judge/executive, defeating Jim "Pop" Malone.

1984: Election to U.S. Senate

In 1984, McConnell was elected to the U.S. Senate, marking the end of his tenure as Jefferson County judge/executive.

1984: McConnell wins U.S. Senate election

In 1984, Mitch McConnell won the U.S. Senate election against incumbent Walter Dee Huddleston by a narrow margin of 3,437 votes.

1985: Elected to the Senate

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

1990: Closest contest since 1990

2008, McConnell faced his closest contest since 1990.

1990: McConnell defeats Harvey I. Sloane

In 1990, Mitch McConnell faced former Louisville Mayor Harvey I. Sloane and won by 4.4%.

1993: Marriage to Elaine Chao

In 1993, Mitch McConnell married Elaine Chao, who later became Secretary of Labor and Secretary of Transportation.

1996: McConnell defeats Steve Beshear

In 1996, Mitch McConnell defeated Steve Beshear by 12.6%, even as Bill Clinton narrowly carried the state.

1997: Chaired NRSC

From 1997, McConnell chaired the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

February 12, 1999: Vote on Bill Clinton Impeachment

On February 12, 1999, McConnell was one of 50 senators who voted to convict and remove Bill Clinton from office during his impeachment trial.

2001: End of NRSC Chairmanship

In 2001, McConnell's tenure as chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee ended.

2002: McConnell defeats Lois Combs Weinberg

In 2002, Mitch McConnell defeated Lois Combs Weinberg by 29.4% after running unopposed in the Republican primary.

February 2003: Heart bypass surgery

In February 2003, Mitch McConnell underwent a triple heart bypass surgery at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.

2004: Lessons from Bush's Reelection

In 2004, McConnell observed how Democratic cooperation with the Bush administration on No Child Left Behind and Medicare Part D helped Bush's reelection, leading him to believe that obstruction and Republican unity were the optimal ways to ensure Republican gains.

2006: Elected Senate Minority Leader

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

2007: Senate Republican Conference Leader

In 2007, Mitch McConnell began his service as the leader of the Senate Republican Conference, holding the position until 2025.

2007: Support of Iraq War troop surge

In 2007, Mitch McConnell supported the Iraq War troop surge in public.

2008: Gift from James S. C. Chao

In 2008, Mitch McConnell and his wife received a gift worth about $5 million to about $25 million from her father, James S. C. Chao, after the death of his wife.

2008: McConnell defeats Bruce Lunsford

In 2008, Mitch McConnell defeated Bruce Lunsford by 6% in what was his closest contest since 1990.

June 2009: Response to Sotomayor's nomination

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

May 2010: Opposition to Elena Kagan's confirmation

In May 2010, after President Obama nominated Elena Kagan to succeed John Paul Stevens, Mitch McConnell expressed concerns about Kagan's independence from the White House. He announced his opposition to Kagan's confirmation, saying she was not forthcoming enough about her views on basic principles of American constitutional law.

October 2010: Goal for Obama Presidency

In October 2010, McConnell stated that the single most important thing he wanted to achieve was for President Obama to be a one-term president.

2010: Earmark Ban

In 2010, Congress banned earmarks, a practice McConnell regularly used for Kentucky businesses and institutions. He has been criticized for his approach to healthcare issues.

2010: Opposition to stricter campaign finance laws

In 2010, Mitch McConnell led the opposition to stricter campaign finance laws, culminating in the Supreme Court ruling that partially overturned the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (McCain-Feingold).

2010: Citizens United v. FEC Decision

In 2010, the U.S. Supreme Court decision Citizens United v. FEC, which partially overturned the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (McCain-Feingold), was a culmination of McConnell's opposition to stricter campaign finance laws.

2011: Debt-Ceiling Crisis

In 2011, the Republican caucus threatened to force the United States to default on its debt, with McConnell saying he had learned that "it's a hostage that's worth ransoming".

2012: McConnell's low approval ratings

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

March 1, 2013: Inducted into Sons of the American Revolution

On March 1, 2013, Mitch McConnell was inducted into the Sons of the American Revolution.

2013: Filibuster Eliminated for Nominations

In 2013, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid eliminated the filibuster for all presidential nominations except the Supreme Court, during Obama's presidency.

2013: Government shutdown

In 2013, the federal government shut down due to Congress's failure to enact legislation to fund it.

2014: "McConnelling" becomes a practice

During the 2014 election campaign, the practice of posting B-roll footage online for use by PACs or of lampooning the B-roll became known as "McConnelling".

2014: McConnell defeats Alison Lundergan Grimes

In 2014, Mitch McConnell defeated Alison Lundergan Grimes in the general election, 56.2–40.7%.

2014: Vow to avoid debt default or government shutdown

In 2014, Mitch McConnell vowed that 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: Becoming Senate Majority Leader and blocking judicial appointments

In 2014, Republicans gained control of the Senate, and Mitch McConnell became majority leader. He then initiated a "near blockade" of Obama's judicial appointments, leading to fewer confirmations compared to previous administrations.

2014: Became Senate Majority Leader

In 2014, after Republicans took control of the Senate, McConnell became the Senate Majority Leader.

2015: Attendance at Beau Biden's funeral

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

2015: Senate Majority Leader

In 2015, Mitch McConnell became the Senate Majority Leader, a position he held until 2021, making him the longest-serving Senate party leader in U.S. history.

2015: Time's 100 Most Influential People

In 2015, Time listed McConnell as one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

2015: Named one of Time's 100 most influential people

In 2015, Time listed Mitch McConnell as one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

February 13, 2016: Refusal to consider Obama's Supreme Court nominee

On February 13, 2016, following the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, Mitch McConnell stated 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 of their next Supreme Court justice.

March 16, 2016: Nomination of Merrick Garland and Senate refusal to act

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

May 4, 2016: Endorsement of 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: Disagreement with Trump over comments about Judge Curiel

In May 2016, Mitch McConnell 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 comes from somewhere else.

July 2016: Disagreement with Trump over criticism of Humayun Khan's parents

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

August 2016: Statement on blocking Obama's Supreme Court nominee

In August 2016, 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: Response 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 everywhere and take full responsibility for his comments.

2016: McConnell's low approval ratings continue

In 2016, another poll showed Mitch McConnell had the lowest home-state approval rating of any sitting senator.

January 3, 2017: Expiration of Merrick Garland's nomination

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 refusal to act under Mitch McConnell's direction.

January 2017: Nomination of Neil Gorsuch

In January 2017, President Trump nominated Neil Gorsuch to fill the Supreme Court vacancy left after Scalia's death.

April 7, 2017: Confirmation of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court

On April 7, 2017, Neil Gorsuch's nomination to the Supreme Court 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 McConnell eliminated the filibuster for Supreme Court nominations to end debate on the nomination of Neil Gorsuch.

October 2017: Response to criticism for stalling Trump's legislation

In October 2017, after being blamed by Stephen Bannon and other Trump allies for stalling the Trump administration's legislation, Mitch McConnell cited Neil Gorsuch's confirmation to the Supreme Court as evidence that the Senate supported Trump's agenda.

2017: Failure to Repeal Obamacare

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

2017: McConnell's high disapproval ratings

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

2017: Portrayal on South Park

In 2017, Mitch McConnell was portrayed satirically in South Park's season 21 episode "Doubling Down".

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2017: Passing of Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

In 2017, as Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell led the passing of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

2017: Record for the number of circuit court judges confirmed

In 2017, the record for the number of circuit court judges confirmed during a president's first year was broken.

2017: McConnell's approval rating in 2017

Starting in the first quarter of 2017, McConnell's approval rating had been underwater since the first quarter of 2017, when it was 44% positive and 47% negative.

April 2018: Statement on Garland nomination decision

In April 2018, Mitch McConnell called the decision not to act on Merrick Garland's Supreme Court nomination "the most consequential decision I've made in my entire public career".

June 2018: Longest-Serving Senate Republican Leader

In June 2018, McConnell became the longest-serving Senate Republican leader in U.S. history.

July 2018: Nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court

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

July 2018: McConnell says border wall funding would likely wait until after midterms

In July 2018, Mitch McConnell stated that funding for the Mexico–United States border wall would likely have to wait until the midterms were over.

July 18, 2018: Record number of 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.

September 2018: Allegations against Kavanaugh and McConnell's response

In September 2018, Christine Blasey Ford publicly alleged that Brett Kavanaugh had sexually assaulted her in 1982. After it was reported that Democrats were investigating a second allegation against Kavanaugh, Mitch McConnell stated that Judge Kavanaugh would be voted on.

October 2018: Statement on potential 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.

December 2018: Senate initially passes bill without wall funding

In December 2018, the Republican-controlled Senate unanimously passed an appropriations bill that did not include funding for the border wall, indicating potential approval from both the House and President Trump initially.

December 22, 2018: Government shuts down over border wall funding

On December 22, 2018, the federal government shut down because Congress refused to meet President Trump's demand for $5.7 billion for a U.S.-Mexico border wall.

2018: Passing of Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act

In 2018, as Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell led the passing of the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act.

2018: Ranked one of the wealthiest members of the U.S. Senate

In 2018, the OpenSecrets website ranked Mitch McConnell one of the wealthiest members of the U.S. Senate, with a net worth of more than $25 million.

2018: McConnell's worst approval rating

In the fourth quarter of 2018, McConnell's approval rating was at its worst since 2017, with a 38% positive rating and a 47% negative rating among Kentuckians.

January 25, 2019: Government shutdown continues

As of January 25, 2019, the federal government remained shut down due to disagreements over funding for a U.S.-Mexico border wall.

May 2019: Confirmation of Gordon Hartogensis

In May 2019, Mitch McConnell's brother-in-law Gordon Hartogensis was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as director of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC), with McConnell voting to confirm.

August 2019: Opposition to Filibuster Elimination

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

August 2019: Fall at home

In August 2019, Mitch McConnell suffered a fall at his Louisville home, fracturing his shoulder.

August 2019: Poll averages show low approval for McConnell

In August 2019, poll averages from The Economist/YouGov, Politico/Morning Consult, and Harvard-Harris showed Mitch McConnell with 23% favorable and 48% unfavorable ratings.

September 2019: Morning Consult finds McConnell's approval rating underwater

In September 2019, the Morning Consult found that Mitch McConnell's approval rating had been underwater since the first quarter of 2017, with his ratings at 36% positive and 50% negative as of the second quarter of 2019.

November 5, 2019: McConnell's comments on Trump's impeachment

On November 5, 2019, as the House of Representatives began public hearings on the impeachment of President Trump, Mitch McConnell stated that he was pretty sure how an impeachment trial would likely end and that it would not lead to a removal.

December 14, 2019: Coordination with White House on Trump's impeachment trial

On December 14, 2019, Mitch McConnell met with White House counsel Pat Cipollone and White House legislative affairs director Eric Ueland. Later that day, he stated that he would be in total coordination with the White House counsel's office for Trump's impeachment trial and that there was "no chance" the Senate would convict Trump and remove him from office.

December 17, 2019: Rejection of witnesses for Trump's impeachment trial

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

2019: Criticism of House Democratic legislation

In 2019, Nancy Pelosi criticized Mitch McConnell for withholding votes on measures passed by the Democratic-controlled House, including the For the People Act of 2019, the Equality Act and the Paycheck Fairness Act.

2019: Time's 100 Most Influential People

In 2019, Time listed McConnell as one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

2019: Named one of Time's 100 most influential people

In 2019, Time listed Mitch McConnell as one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

March 2020: Encouraging judges to retire

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

April 22, 2020: McConnell suggests states should declare bankruptcy instead of receiving COVID-19 aid

On April 22, 2020, Mitch McConnell suggested on the Hugh Hewitt radio show that states should be allowed to declare bankruptcy instead of receiving additional COVID-19 aid, drawing criticism from state and local officials.

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, with Democrats deeming the bill "completely inadequate".

September 2020: Announcement to vote on Trump's Supreme Court nominee

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

November 2020: McConnell elected to seventh term

In November 2020, Mitch McConnell was elected to his seventh term, defeating Amy McGrath by nearly 20 percentage points.

2020: Refusal to recognize Biden's victory in the 2020 election

Following the 2020 election where Joe Biden defeated Trump, Mitch McConnell initially refused to recognize Biden as the winner, avoiding repeating or contradicting Trump's voter fraud claims, but arguing Trump had the right to challenge the results, while celebrating Republican victories in Senate and House races.

2020: Criticism of Trump's Election Overturn Attempts

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

2020: McConnell directs Senate Republicans in 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. The CARES Act was the largest economic stimulus package in U.S. history.

2020: McConnell not the least popular senator

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

January 12, 2021: Reported support for impeaching Trump

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, believing it would make it easier for Republicans to purge the party of Trump and rebuild the party.

February 13, 2021: Vote to acquit Trump in impeachment trial

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

April 10, 2021: Trump's personal attack on McConnell

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

May 28, 2021: Vote against independent commission for January 6 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: Assistance in passing debt ceiling extension

In October 2021, Mitch McConnell played a key role in passing a bill that extended the debt ceiling. He convinced 11 Republicans to vote with the Democrats, averting a potential default on United States debts.

2021: Senate Minority Leader

In 2021, Mitch McConnell became the Senate Minority Leader again, serving until 2025.

March 2023: Hospitalized after a fall

In March 2023, Mitch McConnell was hospitalized for five days after a fall; he was treated for a concussion and a minor rib fracture.

July 2023: Fall after disembarking from a plane

In July 2023, Mitch McConnell fell while disembarking from a plane at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

July 26, 2023: Freezing during press conference

On July 26, 2023, Mitch McConnell froze, unspeaking, for around 20 seconds during a press conference, prompting worldwide media reports.

August 30, 2023: Freezing during press conference in Kentucky

On August 30, 2023, Mitch McConnell again froze during a press conference in Covington, Kentucky.

2023: Time's 100 Most Influential People

In 2023, Time listed McConnell as one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

2023: Named one of Time's 100 most influential people

In 2023, Time listed Mitch McConnell as one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

February 28, 2024: Announcement of Stepping Down

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

December 10, 2024: Fall during Senate Republican Conference policy luncheon

On December 10, 2024, Mitch McConnell sustained a fall during a Senate Republican Conference policy luncheon, spraining his wrist and cutting his face.

2024: Stepping 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.

2024: Essay on American Power and Foreign Policy

In late 2024, McConnell wrote an essay on his view of American power and the foreign policy mistakes of former presidents.

January 2025: Stepping Down as Leader

In January 2025, Mitch McConnell will step down as the Senate Republican Conference Leader.

February 20, 2025: Retirement Announcement

On February 20, 2025, which was his 83rd birthday, McConnell announced he would not run for an eighth Senate term in 2026 and would retire from politics due to increasing concerns about his health.