Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, Ky., announced that he will step down from his position in November. McConnell has been the top Republican in the chamber since 2007 and is the longest serving Senate leader in history. The 82-year-old made clear he plans to finish his elected term which ends in January 2027.
McConnell is receiving praise for his tenure, especially for his impact on the federal judiciary.
McConnell oversaw the confirmation of three Supreme Court justices: Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett. Their lifetime appointments, along with his decision to deny Merrick Garland a hearing during the Obama administration, gave the high court a 6-3 conservative majority.
“I think McConnell’s supreme moment of leadership is after Scalia’s tragic death, he immediately made the announcement, ‘We’re gonna let the American people decide the direction of the court.’ And I think that was the right choice,” Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., said.
The three Trump appointees led to the Dobbs decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade and sent the issue of abortion back to the state level.
In addition to the Supreme Court justices, McConnell also played a main role in the confirmation of 223 Appeals and District Court judges during the Trump administration, according to Pew Research.
“Through sheer force of will, he has shaped the federal judiciary in a conservative fashion,” Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said in a statement.
Democrats don’t see his judicial legacy as a positive.
“Probably the most lasting political move he’s made as leader — changing the Supreme Court has resulted in Roe v. Wade. Now, we live in the Dobbs era, and we see the chaos that’s created,” Sen. Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said.
But when politics are put aside, Democrats do have good things to say about the Kentucky senator.
“I’ve always appreciated this — if you asked him a question he’s gonna give you a brutally honest answer. And if you ask him what he thinks is gonna happen on his side of the aisle, 99.9% of the time he’s right,” Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., said.
McConnell has his fair share of Republicans who are happy to see him go. In 2022 Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., challenged McConnell for his leadership position and lost 37-10.
“Nobody has done more to open the geyser of corporate cash into American politics than Mitch McConnell and that needs to change,” Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said.
There’s no clear frontrunner to replace McConnell. Multiple GOP senators said they are happy he’s giving them until November to figure it out.
