Mitch McConnell says he won't run for reelection next year

Former Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell said he won't run for reelection in 2026, and is expected to announce his impending departure from the Senate on Thursday, his 83rd birthday. 

He told the Associated Press he plans to make the announcement on the Senate floor. McConnell has been a U.S. senator from Kentucky since 1985, and announced one year ago that he would relinquish his leadership role in he Senate. 

McConnell, a polio survivor, has experienced health issues in recent years, including freezing episodes and falls.