View source for Mitch McConnell

{{Short description|American politician and attorney (born 1942)}}
{{Redirect|Senator McConnell}}
{{pp-blp|small=yes}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Use American English|date=August 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Mitch McConnell
| image               = Mitch McConnell 2016 official photo (1).jpg
| caption             = Official portrait, 2016
| office              = Chair of the [[Senate Rules Committee]]
| term_start          = January 3, 2025
| term_end            = <!-- January 3, 2027 -->
| predecessor         = [[Amy Klobuchar]]
| successor           = 
| term_start1         = January 20, 2001
| term_end1           = June 6, 2001
| predecessor1        = [[Chris Dodd]]
| successor1          = Chris Dodd
| term_start2         = January 3, 1999
| term_end2           = January 3, 2001
| predecessor2        = [[John Warner]]
| successor2          = Chris Dodd
| office3             = [[Senate Majority Leader]]
| 1blankname3         = Whip
| 1namedata3          = {{ubl|[[John Cornyn]]|[[John Thune]]}}
| term_start3         = January 3, 2015
| term_end3           = January 20, 2021
| predecessor3        = [[Harry Reid]]
| successor3          = [[Chuck Schumer]]
| jr/sr8              = United States Senator
| state8              = [[Kentucky]]
| alongside8          = [[Rand Paul]]
| term_start8         = January 3, 1985
| term_end8           = <!-- January 3, 2027 -->
| predecessor8        = [[Walter Dee Huddleston]]
{{Collapsed infobox section begin|Senate positions|titlestyle=border: 1px dashed lightgrey;}}
{{Infobox officeholder |embed=yes
| office4             = [[Senate Minority Leader]]
| 2blankname4         = Whip
| 2namedata4          = John Thune
| term_start4         = January 20, 2021
| term_end4           = January 3, 2025
| predecessor4        = Chuck Schumer
| successor4          = Chuck Schumer
| 1blankname5         = Whip
| 1namedata5          = {{ubl |[[Trent Lott]] |[[Jon Kyl]] |John Cornyn}}
| term_start5         = January 3, 2007
| term_end5           = January 3, 2015
| predecessor5        = Harry Reid
| successor5          = Harry Reid
| office6             = Leader of the [[Senate Republican Conference]]
| term_start6         = January 3, 2007
| term_end6           = January 3, 2025
| predecessor6        = [[Bill Frist]]
| successor6          = [[John Thune]]
| office7             = [[Senate Majority Whip]]
| leader7             = Bill Frist
| term_start7         = January 3, 2003
| term_end7           = January 3, 2007
| predecessor7        = Harry Reid
| successor7          = [[Dick Durbin]]
}}
{{Collapsed infobox section end}}
| order9              = 1st
| office9             = Judge/Executive of Jefferson County
| term_start9         = January 2, 1978
| term_end9           = January 3, 1985
| predecessor9        = Todd Hollenbach III{{efn|The office of Judge/Executive was first elected in 1977. Hollenbach preceded McConnell in the former position of County Judge.}}
| successor9          = [[Bremer Ehrler]]
| office10            = [[United States Assistant Attorney General]] for the [[U.S. Department of Justice Office of Legislative Affairs|Office of Legislative Affairs]]
| president10         = [[Gerald Ford]]
| term_start10        = February 1, 1975
| term_end10          = June 27, 1975<br>Acting
| predecessor10       = Vincent Rakestraw
| successor10         = [[Michael Uhlmann]]
| birth_name          = Addison Mitchell McConnell III
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1942|2|20}}
| birth_place         = [[Sheffield, Alabama]], U.S.
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| party               = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| spouse              = {{ubl|{{marriage|Sherrill Redmon|1968|1980|end=divorced}}|{{marriage|[[Elaine Chao]]|February 6, 1993}}}}
| children            = 3
| education           = {{ubl|[[University of Louisville]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])|[[University of Kentucky]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]])}}
| signature           = Mitch McConnell Signature.svg
| website             = {{URL|mcconnell.senate.gov|Senate website}}<br>{{URL|teammitch.com|Campaign website}}
| branch              = {{tree list}}
* [[United States Army]]
** [[United States Army Reserve|Army Reserve]]
{{tree list/end}}
| branch_label        = Branch
| serviceyears        = July 9, 1967 – August 15, 1967 (medical separation)
| serviceyears_label  = Service
|module      = {{Listen
|pos         = center
|embed       = yes
|filename    = Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Bipartisanship in his First Speech as Floor Leader.ogg
|title       = McConnell's voice
|type        = speech
|description = McConnell on Senate bipartisanship in his first speech as Majority Leader.<br>Recorded January 7, 2015}}
}}
'''Addison Mitchell <!--NOTE: Do not add "Mitch" here per [[WP:HYPOCORISM]].--> McConnell III'''<ref name="memoir1">{{Cite book |title=The Long Game: a Memoir |last=McConnell |first=Mitch |publisher=Sentinel |year=2016 |isbn=9780399564123 |location=New York, NY |chapter=Chapter One: A fighting spirit |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9cO3CgAAQBAJ&pg=PA9 |page=9 |quote=...my mother graduated from Wadley High School in 1937. Soon after graduation, she found her way out of rural Alabama and into Birmingham...It was here that she met A.M. McConnell II.|access-date=January 27, 2020 |archive-date=August 5, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805230632/https://books.google.com/books?id=9cO3CgAAQBAJ&pg=PA9 |url-status=live }}</ref> ({{IPAc-en|m|ə|ˈ|k|ɒ|n|ə|l}} {{respell|mə|KON|əl}}; born February 20, 1942) is an American politician and attorney serving as the [[Seniority in the United States Senate|senior]] [[United States senator]] from [[Kentucky]], a seat he has held since 1985. McConnell is in his seventh Senate term and is the [[List of members of the United States Congress by longevity of service|longest-serving senator]] in Kentucky history. He served from 2007 to 2025 as the leader of the [[Senate Republican Conference]], including two stints as minority leader (2007 to 2015 and 2021 to 2025), and was majority leader from 2015 to 2021, making him the longest-serving [[Party leaders of the United States Senate|Senate party leader]] in U.S. history.

McConnell holds [[Conservatism|conservative]] political positions, although he was known as a [[Realpolitik|pragmatist]] and a [[moderate]] Republican early in his political career. He 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) in 2010. McConnell worked to withhold Republican support for major presidential initiatives during the [[Obama administration]], making frequent use of the [[Filibuster in the United States Senate|filibuster]], and blocked many of President [[Barack Obama]]'s judicial nominees, including [[Merrick Garland Supreme Court nomination|Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland]].

During the [[First presidency of Donald Trump|first Trump administration]], the Senate Republican majority under McConnell's leadership passed the [[Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017]], the [[Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act]] in 2018, the [[First Step Act]], and the [[Great American Outdoors Act]], and confirmed a record number of [[federal appeals court]] judges during a president's first two years.  McConnell invoked the [[nuclear option]] to eliminate the 60-vote requirement to end a filibuster for Supreme Court nominations, after his predecessor [[Harry Reid]] had eliminated the filibuster for all other [[Presidential nominee|presidential nominations]]; Trump subsequently won Supreme Court confirmation battles over [[Neil Gorsuch]], [[Brett Kavanaugh]] and [[Amy Coney Barrett]]. While supportive of most of Trump's domestic and foreign policies, McConnell criticized Trump's [[attempts to overturn the 2020 United States presidential election|attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election]], and despite voting to acquit in [[Trump's second impeachment trial]] for reasons related to the constitutionality of impeaching a former president, deemed him "practically and morally responsible" for the [[January 6 United States Capitol attack]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=McConnell says Trump was "practically and morally responsible" for riot after voting not guilty|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mitch-mcconnell-trump-impeachment-vote-senate-speech/|access-date=May 12, 2021|website=cbsnews.com|date=February 14, 2021|language=en-US|archive-date=February 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210216230659/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mitch-mcconnell-trump-impeachment-vote-senate-speech/|url-status=live}}</ref> In late 2024, McConnell wrote an essay on his current view of American power and the foreign policy mistakes of former presidents.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=McConnell |first=Mitch |date=December 16, 2024 |title=The Price of American Retreat |url=https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/mitch-mcconnell-price-american-retreat-trump |access-date= |website=[[Foreign Affairs]] |volume=104 |issue=1 |language=en |archive-date=April 29, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250429073402/https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/mitch-mcconnell-price-american-retreat-trump |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2015, 2019 and 2023, ''Time'' listed McConnell as one of the [[Time 100|100 most influential people in the world]].<ref name="Boehner">{{cite news |last=Boehner |first=John |date=April 16, 2015 |title=Mitch McConnell |url=https://time.com/collection-post/3822824/mitch-mcconnell-2015-time-100/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201106202345/https://time.com/collection-post/3822824/mitch-mcconnell-2015-time-100/ |archive-date=November 6, 2020 |access-date=September 18, 2020 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]}}</ref><ref name="Time">{{Cite magazine |title=Mitch McConnell: The 100 Most Influential People of 2019 |url=https://time.com/collection/100-most-influential-people-2019/5567755/mitch-mcconnell/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112004253/https://time.com/collection/100-most-influential-people-2019/5567755/mitch-mcconnell/ |archive-date=November 12, 2020 |access-date=November 7, 2020 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]}}</ref> On February 28, 2024, 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.<ref>{{cite news |last=Tackett |first=Michael |date=February 28, 2024 |title=McConnell will step down as the Senate Republican leader in November after a record run in the job |url=https://apnews.com/article/mitch-mcconnell-senate-republican-leader-stepping-down-ba478d570a4561aa7baf91a204d7e366 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240228174438/https://apnews.com/article/mitch-mcconnell-senate-republican-leader-stepping-down-ba478d570a4561aa7baf91a204d7e366 |archive-date=February 28, 2024 |access-date=February 28, 2024 |publisher=Associated Press}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mangan |first=Dan |date=February 28, 2024 |title=Mitch McConnell to step down as Republican Senate leader in November: Report |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2024/02/28/mitch-mcconnell-to-step-down-as-republican-senate-leader-in-november-report.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240228181324/https://www.cnbc.com/2024/02/28/mitch-mcconnell-to-step-down-as-republican-senate-leader-in-november-report.html |archive-date=February 28, 2024 |accessdate=February 28, 2024 |publisher=CNBC}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Hughes |first1=Siobhan |date=February 28, 2024 |title=Mitch McConnell to Step Down as Senate Minority Leader in November |url=https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/mitch-mcconnell-to-step-down-as-senate-minority-leader-in-november-7e9ca478 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240228223725/https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/mitch-mcconnell-to-step-down-as-senate-minority-leader-in-november-7e9ca478 |archive-date=February 28, 2024 |access-date=February 28, 2024 |work=The Wall Street Journal |publisher=News Corp}}</ref> [[2024 Senate Republican Conference leadership election|An internal election]] to fill the post of Senate Republican Leader was held on November 13, in which South Dakota senator [[John Thune]] was selected.<ref>{{Cite news |author1=Mary Clare Jalonick |author2=Stephen Groves |date=November 13, 2024 |title=Republican John Thune of South Dakota is elected the next Senate majority leader |url=https://apnews.com/article/senate-leader-thune-cornyn-scott-mcconnell-trump-c3c1c451a420729136ae641a14d9d5d6 |access-date=November 13, 2024 |work=Associated Press |archive-date=April 20, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250420182628/https://apnews.com/article/senate-leader-thune-cornyn-scott-mcconnell-trump-c3c1c451a420729136ae641a14d9d5d6 |url-status=live }}</ref> On February 20, 2025, McConnell announced he would not run for an eighth Senate term in [[2026 United States Senate election in Kentucky|2026]] and would retire from politics. This came after increasing concerns about his health and ability to continue serving.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Schreiner |first1=Bruce |title=Sen. Mitch McConnell won't seek reelection in 2026, ending long tenure as Republican power broker |url=https://apnews.com/article/mitch-mcconnell-senate-retirement-34c79ef12bf62d14cb71d3c393f23a83 |publisher=[[Associated Press]] |access-date=February 20, 2025 |date=February 20, 2025 |archive-date=May 1, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250501010303/https://apnews.com/article/mitch-mcconnell-senate-retirement-34c79ef12bf62d14cb71d3c393f23a83 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Senator Mitch McConnell Announces He Won't Seek Reelection in 2026 {{!}} C-SPAN.org |url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?c5154174/senator-mitch-mcconnell-announces-seek-reelection-2026 |access-date=February 20, 2025 |website=www.c-span.org |archive-date=February 20, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250220172506/https://www.c-span.org/video/?c5154174/senator-mitch-mcconnell-announces-seek-reelection-2026 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Early life and education (1942–1967)==
McConnell was born on February 20, 1942, to Julia Odene "Dean" ({{nee}} Shockley) and Addison Mitchell "A.M." McConnell II<ref name="memoir">{{Cite book |title=The Long Game: a Memoir |last=McConnell |first=Mitch |publisher=Sentinel |year=2016 |isbn=9780399564123 |location=New York, NY |chapter=Chapter One: A fighting spirit |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9cO3CgAAQBAJ&pg=PA9 |page=9 |quote=She'd been known her whole life not by her first name, Julia, which she loved, but by her middle name, Odene, which she detested. So in Birmingham she began to call herself Dean, and with no thought of ever returning to Wadley&nbsp;... James McConnell, from County Down, Ireland, who came to this country as a young boy in the 1760s, went on to fight for the colonies in the American Revolution. |access-date=January 27, 2020 |archive-date=August 5, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805230632/https://books.google.com/books?id=9cO3CgAAQBAJ&pg=PA9 |url-status=live }}</ref> at Colbert County Hospital (now Helen Keller Hospital) in [[Sheffield, Alabama]], and grew up in [[Athens, Alabama]], where his grandfather, Robert Hayes McConnell Sr., and his great-uncle, Addison Mitchell McConnell, owned McConnell Funeral Home.<ref name = memoir/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=X0ogAAAAIBAJ&pg=4678,2857069 |title=Fact of the Week |newspaper=[[The Tuscaloosa News]] |date=July 16, 2000 |access-date=November 19, 2013 |archive-date=August 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200823094702/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=X0ogAAAAIBAJ&pg=4678%2C2857069%3Fhl%3Den-US&gl=US&ceid=US%3Aen |url-status=live }}</ref> He is of [[Scotch-Irish Americans|Scots-Irish]] and [[English Americans|English]] descent. His ancestor James McConnell fought on the American side in the [[American Revolutionary War]].<ref name="memoir"/><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.enewscourier.com/news/athens-native-sen-mitch-mcconnell-looking-forward-to-busy-opening/article_88ec6c10-8e12-11e4-b57f-5703eb0317e6.html|title=Athens native Sen. Mitch McConnell looking forward to busy opening session|last=Middleton|first=Karen |date=December 28, 2014|work=The News Courier|access-date=January 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190707151050/https://www.enewscourier.com/news/athens-native-sen-mitch-mcconnell-looking-forward-to-busy-opening/article_88ec6c10-8e12-11e4-b57f-5703eb0317e6.html|archive-date=July 7, 2019|url-status=live |quote=McConnell said that his original American ancestor emigrated from County Down, Ireland, to North Carolina. }} [https://archive.org/details/AthensNativeSen.MitchMcConnellLookingForwardToBusyOpeningSessionNewsEnewscourier.com Alt URL]</ref>

{{Stack|float=left|[[File:Mitch McConnell in 1960 Crimson.jpg|thumb|upright|left|McConnell in [[duPont Manual High School]]'s 1960 yearbook]]}}
{{Mitch McConnell series}}
In 1944, at the age of two, McConnell's upper left leg was paralyzed by a [[polio]] attack.<ref name="memoir" /><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/06/27/no-the-government-did-not-pay-for-gop-leader-mitch-mcconnells-polio-care-charity-did/ |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=June 27, 2017 |title=No, the government did not pay for Mitch McConnell's polio care. Charity did |first=Kristine |last=Phillips |access-date=July 4, 2017 |archive-date=July 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190706085227/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/06/27/no-the-government-did-not-pay-for-gop-leader-mitch-mcconnells-polio-care-charity-did/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He and his mother were living with an aunt in [[Five Points, Alabama]], at the time, and he received treatment at the [[Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation]].<ref>{{cite news|url = https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/reason/2017/07/22/fact-check-did-us-pay-mcconnell-s-polio-treatment/15362788007/|title = Fact Check: Did U.S. pay for McConnell's polio treatment?|last = Fader|first = Carole|date = July 22, 2017|accessdate = October 30, 2024|newspaper = [[The Florida Times-Union]]|archive-date = April 4, 2025|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250404045954/https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/reason/2017/07/22/fact-check-did-us-pay-mcconnell-s-polio-treatment/15362788007/|url-status = live}}</ref> The treatment potentially saved him from being disabled for the rest of his life.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mitch-mcconnell-on-trump-and-divisiveness-in-politics/|title=Mitch McConnell on Trump and divisiveness in politics|work=[[CBS News]]|date=May 29, 2016|access-date=June 19, 2017|archive-date=August 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804012947/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mitch-mcconnell-on-trump-and-divisiveness-in-politics/|url-status=live}}</ref> McConnell said his family "almost went broke" because of costs related to his illness.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/mitch-mcconnell-1990-campaign-ad-supported-affordable-healthcare-for-all/ |publisher=vice.com |date=June 26, 2017 |first=Jesse |last=Hicks |access-date=July 4, 2017 |title=In 1990, Mitch McConnell Supported Affordable Healthcare for All |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612113117/https://tonic.vice.com/en_us/article/wjqwe5/mitch-mcconnell-1990-campaign-ad-supported-affordable-healthcare-for-all |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1950, when he was eight, McConnell moved with his family from Athens to [[Augusta, Georgia]], where his father, who was in the [[United States Army|Army]], was stationed at [[Fort Gordon]].<ref name="memoir2">{{cite book |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9cO3CgAAQBAJ&pg=PA15 |page=15 |chapter=Chapter Two: From Baseball to Politics |title=The Long Game: a Memoir |first=Mitch |last=McConnell |isbn=9780399564123 |year=2016 |publisher=Penguin |access-date=January 27, 2020 |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806063105/https://books.google.com/books?id=9cO3CgAAQBAJ&pg=PA15 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1956, his family moved to [[Louisville, Kentucky]], where he attended [[duPont Manual High School]].<ref name="memoir2"/> McConnell was elected student council president at his high school during his junior year.<ref name="memoir2"/> He graduated [[Omicron Delta Kappa]] from the [[University of Louisville]] with a [[B.A.]] in [[political science]] in 1964 with honors.<ref name="SenBio">{{cite web|url=https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=Biography|title=Biography – About – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell|date=January 3, 1985|website=Mitch McConnell; Republican Leader. U.S. Senator for Kentucky|publisher=mcconnell.senate.gov|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091227061947/http://mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=Biography|archive-date=December 27, 2009 |url-status=live|access-date=February 24, 2013}}</ref> He was president of the Student Council of the College of Arts and Sciences and a member of the [[Phi Kappa Tau]] fraternity.<ref name="memoir3">{{cite book |title=The Long Game: a Memoir |first=Mitch |last=McConnell |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9cO3CgAAQBAJ&pg=PA26 |page=26 |chapter=Chapter Three: Seeing greatness. |isbn=9780399564123 |year=2016 |publisher=Penguin |access-date=January 27, 2020 |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806015634/https://books.google.com/books?id=9cO3CgAAQBAJ&pg=PA26 |url-status=live }}</ref>

McConnell attended the 1963 [[March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom]], where [[Martin Luther King Jr.]] gave the "[[I Have a Dream]]" speech.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Steinhauer |first1=Jennifer |title=Mitch McConnell's Commitment to Civil Rights Sets Him Apart |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/11/us/politics/mitch-mcconnell-republicans-civil-rights.html |website=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=March 5, 2020 |date=July 10, 2015 |archive-date=August 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200821055123/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/11/us/politics/mitch-mcconnell-republicans-civil-rights.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1964, at the age of 22, he attended civil rights rallies,<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.newrepublic.com/article/113181/mitch-mcconnell-civil-rights-crusader-regrets|title=How Mitch McConnell Enabled Barack Obama|author=Chotiner, Isaac|magazine=[[The New Republic]]|date=May 15, 2013|access-date=September 18, 2020|archive-date=July 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200712021416/https://newrepublic.com/article/113181/mitch-mcconnell-civil-rights-crusader-regrets|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[intern]]ed with Senator [[John Sherman Cooper]]. He has said his time with Cooper inspired him to run for the Senate later in life.<ref name=Stretch>{{cite news|last1=Martin|first1=Jonathan|title=Mitch McConnell Is Headed Down the Stretch|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/31/magazine/mitch-mcconell-kentucky-senate.html|access-date=September 24, 2014|work=[[The New York Times Magazine]]|date=August 27, 2014|archive-date=May 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200511015913/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/31/magazine/mitch-mcconell-kentucky-senate.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Homans-2019">{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/22/magazine/mcconnell-senate-trump.html |title=Mitch McConnell Got Everything He Wanted. But at What Cost? |last=Homans |first=Charles |date=January 22, 2019 |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=May 23, 2019 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=August 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809193955/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/22/magazine/mcconnell-senate-trump.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1967, McConnell graduated from the [[University of Kentucky College of Law]], where he was president of the [[Student bar association|Student Bar Association]].<ref name="memoir3"/><ref name="almanac">{{cite web|url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/almanac/2008/people/ky/kys1.php |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120904133709/http://www.nationaljournal.com/almanac/2008/people/ky/kys1.php |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 4, 2012 |title=National Journal Almanac 2008 |work=Nationaljournal.com |access-date=February 24, 2013}}</ref>

==Early career (1967–1984)==
In March 1967, shortly before the expiration of his educational [[Conscription in the United States#Vietnam War|draft]] deferment upon graduation from law school, McConnell enlisted in the [[U.S. Army Reserve]] as a private at Louisville.<ref name="Cheves">{{cite news|last1=Cheves|first1=John|title=McConnell opens military record |url=https://www.kentucky.com/latest-news/article43980846.html|access-date=January 5, 2019|work=Lexington Herald-Leader|date=October 23, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190105185126/https://www.kentucky.com/latest-news/article43980846.html|archive-date=January 5, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> This was a coveted position because the Reserve units were mostly kept out of combat during the [[Vietnam War]].<ref name="Cheves"/><ref name="MacGillis">{{Cite book|title=[[The Cynic: The Political Education of Mitch McConnell]]|last=MacGillis|first=Alec|publisher=Simon & Schuster|year=2014|isbn=978-1-5011-1203-4|location=New York, NY}}</ref>{{rp|11–12}} His first day of training at [[Fort Knox]], [[Kentucky]], was July 9, 1967, two days after taking the [[bar exam]], and his last day was August 15, 1967.<ref name="memoir3"/><ref name="Cheves"/> Shortly after his arrival he was diagnosed with [[optic neuritis]] and deemed medically unfit for military service, and was honorably [[Military discharge|discharged]].{{efn|Although McConnell has allowed reporters to examine parts of his military record and take notes, he has refused to allow copies to be made or to disclose his entire record, despite calls by his opponents to do so. His time in service has also been the subject of criticism because his discharge was accelerated after his father placed a call to Senator [[John Sherman Cooper]], who then sent a wire to the commanding general at Fort Knox advising that "Mitchell [is] anxious to clear post in order to enroll in [[New York University]] (NYU)". He was allowed to leave post just five days later, though McConnell maintains that no one helped him with his enlistment into or discharge from the reserves. According to McConnell, he struggled through the exercises at basic training and was sent to a doctor for a physical examination, which revealed McConnell's optic neuritis. McConnell did not attend NYU.{{cite news|last1=Cheves|first1=John|title=McConnell opens military record |url=https://www.kentucky.com/latest-news/article43980846.html|access-date=January 5, 2019|work=Lexington Herald-Leader|date=October 23, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190105185126/https://www.kentucky.com/latest-news/article43980846.html|archive-date=January 5, 2019|url-status=live}}}}<ref name="Cheves"/><ref name="weiser">{{cite news |url=http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2002/09/23/loc_military_service.html|title=Military service rare on delegation|last1=Weiser |first1=Carl|date=September 23, 2002|work=The Cincinnati Enquirer|access-date=February 3, 2015|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120529190844/http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2002/09/23/loc_military_service.html|archive-date=May 29, 2012|url-status=dead}} [https://archive.org/details/2002MilitaryServiceRareWeiser2pppdfE1 Alt URL]</ref> McConnell's political opponents have repeatedly made an issue of his brief time in service during his electoral campaigns.<ref name="Cheves"/><ref name="weiser"/>

From 1968 to 1970, McConnell worked as chief [[legislative assistant#In the United States|legislative assistant]] to Senator [[Marlow Cook]] in [[Washington, D.C.]], managing a legislative department consisting of five members as well as assisting with speechwriting and [[U.S. Congress and citizens#Congresspersons and constituents|constituent services]].<ref name="memoir4">{{cite book |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9cO3CgAAQBAJ&pg=PA40 |page=40 |chapter=Chapter Four: You can start too late, but never too soon |title=The Long Game: a Memoir |isbn=9780399564123 |last1=McConnell |first1=Mitch |date=May 31, 2016 |publisher=Penguin |access-date=January 27, 2020 |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806044152/https://books.google.com/books?id=9cO3CgAAQBAJ&pg=PA40 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1971, McConnell returned to Louisville, where he worked on [[Tom Emberton]]'s campaign for [[governor of Kentucky]], which was unsuccessful.<ref name="memoir4"/> McConnell attempted to run for a seat in the state legislature but was disqualified because he did not meet the residency requirements for the office.<ref name="memoir4"/> He then worked for the Louisville law firm Segal, Isenberg, Sales and Stewart for a few years.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.loc.gov/law/find/nominations/rehnquist-cj/hearing.pdf |title=Nomination of Justice William Hubbs Rehnquist |website=[[Library of Congress]] |access-date=June 6, 2021 |archive-date=May 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170509035045/http://www.loc.gov/law/find/nominations/rehnquist-cj/hearing.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="memoir4"/> During the same period, he taught a night class on political science at the University of Louisville.<ref name="almanac"/><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.kentucky.com/news/special-reports/article44409951.html |date=October 15, 2006 |title=Senator's pet issue: money and the power it buys |work=[[Lexington Herald-Leader]] |first=John |last=Cheves |access-date=October 8, 2018 |archive-date=October 8, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181008061326/https://www.kentucky.com/news/special-reports/article44409951.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Cherkis">{{Cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/11/mitch-mcconnell-profile_n_3550173.html|title=Mitch McConnell's 30-Year Senate Legacy Leaves Kentucky In The Lurch|last1=Cherkis|first1=Jason|date=July 11, 2013|work=[[HuffPost]]|access-date=January 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190105054216/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/11/mitch-mcconnell-profile_n_3550173.html|archive-date=January 5, 2019|url-status=live|last2=Carter|first2=Zach}}</ref>

In October 1974, McConnell returned to Washington to fill a position as [[United States Attorney General|Deputy Assistant Attorney General]] under President Ford, where he worked alongside [[Robert Bork]], [[Laurence Silberman]], and [[Antonin Scalia]].<ref name="almanac"/><ref name="memoir4"/> He also served as acting [[United States Assistant Attorney General]] for the [[U.S. Department of Justice Office of Legislative Affairs|Office of Legislative Affairs]] under President Ford in 1975.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/05/24/archives/ford-picks-thornburgh-to-head-criminal-division.html | title=Ford Picks Thornburgh to Head Criminal Division | newspaper=[[The New York Times]] | date=May 24, 1975 | access-date=June 9, 2022 | archive-date=June 9, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220609231136/https://www.nytimes.com/1975/05/24/archives/ford-picks-thornburgh-to-head-criminal-division.html | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xpy0AAAAIAAJ&pg=RA4-PA5 | title=Register, Department of Justice and the Courts of the United States | year=1972 | access-date=May 27, 2023 | archive-date=May 27, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230527024945/https://books.google.com/books?id=xpy0AAAAIAAJ&pg=RA4-PA5 | url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1977, McConnell was elected the [[Jefferson County Judge/Executive|Jefferson County judge/executive]], the top political office in [[Jefferson County, Kentucky]], at the time, defeating incumbent Democrat Todd Hollenbach III, 53% to 47%. He was reelected in 1981 against Jefferson County Commissioner Jim "Pop" Malone, 51% to 47%, outspending Malone 3–1, and occupied the office until his election to the U.S. Senate in 1984.<ref name=Stretch /><ref name="memoir4"/>

==U.S. Senate (1985–present)==
{{Multiple image
| total_width       = 400
| caption_align     = center
| image1            = Mitch-McConnell-99th.jpg
| caption1          = 1985
| image2            = Mitch-McConnell-107th.jpg
| caption2          = 2001
| image3            = Mitch McConnell official photo.jpg
| caption3          = 2006
| image4            = Sen Mitch McConnell official.jpg
| caption4          = 2009
| image5            = Mitch McConnell official portrait 112th Congress.jpg
| caption5          = 2011
| header            = Past official portraits
}}
[[File:C39838-5.jpg|thumb|President [[Ronald Reagan]] in a meeting with McConnell in the Oval Office, March 1987]]
[[File:Bush Contact Sheet P19344 (cropped).jpg|thumb|President [[George H. W. Bush]] with McConnell and [[Elaine Chao]] in February 1991]]
[[File:Senator Mitch McConnell in 1992.jpg|thumb|Mitch McConnell in 1992]]
[[File:President George W. Bush and Senator Mitch McConnell shake hands (cropped).jpg|thumb|President [[George W. Bush]] shakes hands with McConnell at Bush's first inauguration, January 2001.]]
In his early years as a politician in Kentucky, McConnell was known as a pragmatist and a moderate Republican.<ref name="Stretch" /><ref name="MacGillis"/> Over time he became more conservative.<ref name="Stretch" /><ref name="MacGillis"/> According to one of his biographers, McConnell transformed "from a moderate Republican who supported abortion rights and public employee unions to the embodiment of partisan obstructionism and conservative orthodoxy on Capitol Hill."<ref name="MacGillis"/> McConnell has widely been described as an obstructionist.<ref>Multiple sources:

* {{cite news|last1=Zengerle|first1=Jason|date=November 2013|title=Get Mitch|work=[[Politico]]|url=http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2013/11/get-mitch-mcconnell-99376.html|url-status=dead|access-date=August 20, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025152301/http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2013/11/get-mitch-mcconnell-99376.html|archive-date=October 25, 2014}}
* {{cite web|last1=Wood|first1=B. Dan|last2=Jorden|first2=Soren|date=2017|title=Party polarization america war over two social contracts|url=https://www.cambridge.org/gb/academic/subjects/politics-international-relations/american-government-politics-and-policy/party-polarization-america-war-over-two-social-contracts?format=HB|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181006203618/https://www.cambridge.org/gb/academic/subjects/politics-international-relations/american-government-politics-and-policy/party-polarization-america-war-over-two-social-contracts?format=HB|archive-date=October 6, 2018|access-date=March 14, 2019|website=Cambridge University Press}}
* {{cite news|last1=Isquith|first1=Elias|date=September 23, 2013|title=The disappearing Mitch McConnell|work=[[Salon.com|Salon]]|url=http://www.salon.com/2013/09/23/the_disappearing_mitch_mcconnell/|url-status=live|access-date=August 20, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140821045523/http://www.salon.com/2013/09/23/the_disappearing_mitch_mcconnell/|archive-date=August 21, 2014}}
* {{Cite news|last1=Fisher|first1=Marc|last2=Sullivan|first2=Sean|date=June 30, 2017|title=Mitch McConnell, America's No. 1 obstructionist, is trying to make big things happen|language=en-US|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/mitch-mcconnell-americas-no-1-obstructionist-is-now-trying-to-make-big-things-happen/2017/06/29/93071b3e-5c35-11e7-9fc6-c7ef4bc58d13_story.html|url-status=live|access-date=September 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201103044135/https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/mitch-mcconnell-americas-no-1-obstructionist-is-now-trying-to-make-big-things-happen/2017/06/29/93071b3e-5c35-11e7-9fc6-c7ef4bc58d13_story.html|archive-date=November 3, 2020|issn=0190-8286}}
* {{cite news|title=Let's just say it: The Republicans are the problem.|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/lets-just-say-it-the-republicans-are-the-problem/2012/04/27/gIQAxCVUlT_story.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181006195220/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/lets-just-say-it-the-republicans-are-the-problem/2012/04/27/gIQAxCVUlT_story.html|archive-date=October 6, 2018|access-date=October 6, 2018|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}
* {{Cite book|last1=Mann|first1=Thomas|url=https://www.basicbooks.com/titles/thomas-e-mann/its-even-worse-than-it-looks/9780465096206/|title=It's Even Worse Than It Looks|last2=Ornstein|first2=Norman|publisher=Basic Books|year=2016|isbn=9780465096206|access-date=October 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181006235446/https://www.basicbooks.com/titles/thomas-e-mann/its-even-worse-than-it-looks/9780465096206/|archive-date=October 6, 2018|url-status=live}}
* {{Cite book|last1=Page|first1=Benjamin|url=https://www.press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/D/bo27316263.html|title=Democracy in America?|last2=Gilens|first2=Martin|publisher=University of Chicago Press|year=2018|page=158|access-date=October 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180913114801/https://www.press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/D/bo27316263.html|archive-date=September 13, 2018|url-status=live}}
* {{Cite journal|last1=Skocpol|first1=Theda|last2=Jacobs|first2=Lawrence R.|date=2012|title=Accomplished and Embattled: Understanding Obama's Presidency|journal=Political Science Quarterly|language=en|volume=127|issue=1|pages=1–24|doi=10.1002/j.1538-165x.2012.tb00718.x|issn=0032-3195}}
* {{Cite journal|last1=Slotnick|first1=Elliot|last2=Schiavoni|first2=Sara|last3=Goldman|first3=Sheldon|date=2017|title=Obama's Judicial Legacy: The Final Chapter|journal=Journal of Law and Courts|language=en|volume=5|issue=2|pages=363–422|doi=10.1086/693347|issn=2164-6570|quote=the major responsibility for the obstruction and delay of Obama judges in the 114th Congress falls to Majority Leader McConnell and the allied leadership in the Republican Senate caucus|s2cid=158940942}}
* {{Cite book|last1=Hetherington|first1=Marc J.|url=http://www.oxfordhandbooks.com/view/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190274801.001.0001/oxfordhb-9780190274801-e-15|title=Political Trust and Polarization|last2=Rudolph|first2=Thomas J.|date=2018|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=9780190274801|volume=1|doi=10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190274801.001.0001|access-date=October 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181008061423/http://www.oxfordhandbooks.com/view/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190274801.001.0001/oxfordhb-9780190274801-e-15|archive-date=October 8, 2018|url-status=live}}
* {{Cite news|last=Wolf|first=Zachary B.|date=August 6, 2019|title=Mitch McConnell's obstruction in the spotlight following massacres|work=[[CNN]]|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/06/politics/mitch-mcconnell-gun-control/index.html|url-status=live|access-date=September 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201110033916/https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/06/politics/mitch-mcconnell-gun-control/index.html|archive-date=November 10, 2020}}
* {{Cite news|last=Kane|first=Paul|date=February 18, 2017|title=As the Gorsuch nomination proceeds, this man is taking credit: Mitch McConnell|language=en-US|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/as-the-gorsuch-nomination-proceeds-this-man-is-taking-credit-mitch-mcconnell/2017/02/18/a9d66a46-f5eb-11e6-b9c9-e83fce42fb61_story.html|url-status=live|access-date=September 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201005222950/https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/as-the-gorsuch-nomination-proceeds-this-man-is-taking-credit-mitch-mcconnell/2017/02/18/a9d66a46-f5eb-11e6-b9c9-e83fce42fb61_story.html|archive-date=October 5, 2020|issn=0190-8286}}</ref>

From 1997 to 2001, McConnell chaired the [[National Republican Senatorial Committee]], the body charged with securing electoral victories for Republicans.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/briefing/Campaign_Committee_Chair.htm|title=Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairs|website=United States Senate|access-date=January 8, 2019|archive-date=January 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190109034057/https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/briefing/Campaign_Committee_Chair.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/legislativelabyr00dian/page/35|title=Legislative labyrinth|last1=Dwyre|first1=Diana|last2=Farrar-Myers|first2=Victoria A.|publisher=CQ Press|year=2001|isbn=978-1568025681|location=Washington, D.C.|page=[https://archive.org/details/legislativelabyr00dian/page/35 35]}}</ref> On February 12, 1999, he was one of 50 senators to vote to [[Impeachment of Bill Clinton|convict and remove Bill Clinton from office]].<ref>{{cite news|date=February 12, 1999|title=Roll Call of Votes on Articles of Impeachment|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|url=https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/library/politics/021399ap-rollcall-vote.html|url-status=live|access-date=December 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200106164903/https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/library/politics/021399ap-rollcall-vote.html|archive-date=January 6, 2020}}</ref> He was first elected [[Majority Whip]] in the [[108th Congress]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mitch-mcconnell-becomes-longest-serving-republican-leader-in-history-of-senate/|title=Mitch McConnell becomes longest-serving Republican leader in history of Senate|author=Tillett, Emily|website=cbsnews.com|date=June 12, 2018|access-date=September 18, 2020|archive-date=August 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804015232/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mitch-mcconnell-becomes-longest-serving-republican-leader-in-history-of-senate/|url-status=live}}</ref> Senate Majority Leader [[Bill Frist]] did not seek reelection in the [[2006 United States Senate elections|2006 elections]]. In November, after Republicans lost control of the Senate, they elected McConnell minority leader.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6498333|title=McConnell Is Senate's New Top Republican|website=NPR.org|date=November 16, 2006|access-date=September 18, 2020|archive-date=August 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804231528/https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6498333|url-status=live}}</ref> After Republicans took control of the Senate following the [[2014 United States Senate elections|2014 Senate elections]], McConnell became the [[Senate Majority Leader|Senate majority leader]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2015/01/06/mitch-mcconnell-senate-majority-leader/21336659/|title=McConnell takes the reins as Senate majority leader|author=Carroll, James R.|website=[[USA Today]]|access-date=September 18, 2020|archive-date=August 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804030729/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2015/01/06/mitch-mcconnell-senate-majority-leader/21336659/|url-status=live}}</ref> In June 2018 he became the longest-serving Senate Republican leader in U.S. history.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/12/politics/mitch-mcconnell-longest-serving-gop-senate-leader/index.html|title=Mitch McConnell makes Senate history as longest-serving Republican leader|first=Ted|last=Barrett|publisher=[[CNN]]|date=June 12, 2018|access-date=September 18, 2020|archive-date=August 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200820014510/https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/12/politics/mitch-mcconnell-longest-serving-gop-senate-leader/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> McConnell is the second Kentuckian to serve as a party leader in the Senate (after [[Alben W. Barkley]] led the Democrats from 1937 to 1949)<ref name="SenBio" /> and the longest-serving U.S. senator from Kentucky.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.laruecountyherald.com/content/mcconnell-becomes-longest-serving-senator-kentucky |title=McConnell becomes longest-serving senator from Kentucky |publisher=LaRue County (Kentucky) Herald Tribune |date=January 14, 2009 |access-date=February 13, 2011 |archive-date=March 2, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130302223550/http://www.laruecountyherald.com/content/mcconnell-becomes-longest-serving-senator-kentucky |url-status=live }}</ref>

McConnell has a reputation as a skilled political strategist and tactician.<ref name="Costa"/><ref name="Green">{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2011/01/strict-obstructionist/308344/|title=Strict Obstructionist|first=Joshua|last=Green|work=[[The Atlantic]]|access-date=August 2, 2018|date=January 4, 2011|archive-date=July 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719180244/https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2011/01/strict-obstructionist/308344/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21629419-mitch-mcconnell-may-soon-be-one-most-powerful-people-america-new-master|title=The new master of the Senate?|newspaper=[[The Economist]]|date=October 30, 2014|access-date=September 18, 2020|archive-date=March 1, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180301230626/https://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21629419-mitch-mcconnell-may-soon-be-one-most-powerful-people-america-new-master|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://hbr.org/2017/02/if-democrats-want-to-challenge-trump-they-need-a-new-strategy|title=If Democrats Want to Challenge Trump, They Need a New Strategy|date=February 23, 2017|author=Mukunda, Gautam|work=Harvard Business Review|access-date=October 7, 2018|archive-date=October 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181007223229/https://hbr.org/2017/02/if-democrats-want-to-challenge-trump-they-need-a-new-strategy|url-status=live}}</ref> This reputation dimmed after Republicans failed to repeal the [[Affordable Care Act]] (Obamacare) in 2017 during consolidated Republican control of government.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/27/us/politics/mitch-mcconnell-health-care-repeal.html|title=McConnell's Reputation as a Master Tactician Takes a Hit|last=Steinhauer|first=Jennifer|date=June 27, 2017|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=June 28, 2017|archive-date=June 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170628005742/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/27/us/politics/mitch-mcconnell-health-care-repeal.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-healthcare-mcconnell-analysis-idUSKBN1A32BL|title=Mitch McConnell: 'The man in the middle' of U.S. healthcare war|author=Cowan, Richard|date=July 18, 2017|work=[[Reuters]]|access-date=January 9, 2019|language=en|archive-date=January 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190109205101/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-healthcare-mcconnell-analysis-idUSKBN1A32BL|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/09/28/myth-mitch-mcconnell-genius-master-senate-215656/|title=The Myth of Mitch McConnell, Political Super-Genius|last=Jentleson|first=Adam|website=[[Politico]] Magazine|language=en|date=September 28, 2017|access-date=January 9, 2019|archive-date=January 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190109205202/https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/09/28/myth-mitch-mcconnell-genius-master-senate-215656|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/08/trump-mitch-mcconnell/536370/|title=Mitch McConnell, Under Siege|last=Berman|first=Russell|date=August 9, 2017|website=[[The Atlantic]]|language=en-US|access-date=January 9, 2019|archive-date=January 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190109205441/https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/08/trump-mitch-mcconnell/536370/|url-status=live}}</ref>

McConnell regularly obtained [[Earmark (politics)|earmarks]] for businesses and institutions in Kentucky until Congress banned the practice in 2010.<ref>{{cite news|work=[[Politico]]|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2014/03/mitch-mcconnell-earmark-spending-104503|title=McConnell slammed for earmarks|author=Bresnahan, John|date=March 10, 2014|access-date=September 18, 2020|archive-date=September 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200921125322/https://www.politico.com/story/2014/03/mitch-mcconnell-earmark-spending-104503|url-status=live}}</ref> He has been criticized for funding "temporary patches" to Kentucky's long-term healthcare problems while simultaneously opposing and obstructing national programs that seek to improve healthcare more systematically, such as [[Obamacare]] and [[Medicaid#Expansion under the Affordable Care Act|Medicaid expansion]].<ref name="Cherkis"/>

===Relationships with presidential administrations===
====Obama====
As the leading Republican senator, McConnell confronted and pressured other Republican senators who were willing to negotiate with Democrats and the Obama administration.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://global.oup.com/academic/product/health-care-reform-and-american-politics-9780190262044?cc=is&lang=en&|title=Health Care Reform and American Politics: What Everyone Needs to Know|last1=Jacobs|first1=Lawrence|last2=Skocpol|first2=Theda|date=2016|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=9780190262044|edition=Third|location=Oxford, New York|pages=85–86, 195|access-date=October 6, 2018|archive-date=June 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200628005402/https://global.oup.com/academic/product/health-care-reform-and-american-politics-9780190262044?cc=is&lang=en&|url-status=live}}</ref> According to [[Purdue University]] political scientist Bert A. Rockman, "pure party line voting has been evident now for some time&nbsp;... but rarely has the tactic of 'oppositionism' been so boldly stated as McConnell did."<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Rockman|first=Bert A. |date=October 10, 2012|title=The Obama Presidency: Hope, Change, and Reality|journal=Social Science Quarterly |volume=93|issue=5 |pages=1065–1080 |doi=10.1111/j.1540-6237.2012.00921.x |issn=0038-4941}}</ref> According to [[University of Texas]] legal scholar [[Sanford Levinson]], 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 United States presidential election|2004 reelection]].<ref name="Levinson-2012">{{Cite book|url=https://global.oup.com/academic/product/framed-9780199890750?cc=us&lang=en&|title=Framed: America's 51 Constitutions and the Crisis of Governance|last=Levinson|first=Sanford|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2012|isbn=9780199890750|location=Oxford, New York|page=234|access-date=October 8, 2018|archive-date=October 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181010131533/https://global.oup.com/academic/product/framed-9780199890750?cc=us&lang=en&|url-status=live}}</ref> Levinson noted, "McConnell altogether rationally&nbsp;... concluded that Republicans have nothing to gain, as a political party, from collaborating in anything that the president could then claim as an achievement."<ref name="Levinson-2012" /> A number of political scientists, historians, and legal scholars have characterized McConnell's obstructionism and [[constitutional hardball]] as contributors to democratic erosion in the United States.<ref>Multiple sources:
* {{Cite book|url=http://www.simonandschuster.com/books/American-Amnesia/Jacob-S-Hacker/9781451667837|title=American Amnesia|last1=Hacker|first1=Jacob|last2=Pierson|first2=Paul|publisher=Simon and Schuster|year=2017|isbn=9781451667837|access-date=October 6, 2018|archive-date=November 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181118185320/http://www.simonandschuster.com/books/American-Amnesia/Jacob-S-Hacker/9781451667837|url-status=live}}
* {{Cite book|url=https://www.press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/H/bo28381225.html|title=How to Save a Constitutional Democracy|last1=Ginsburg|first1=Tom|last2=Huq|first2=Aziz|publisher=University of Chicago Press|year=2019|page=126|access-date=December 13, 2018|archive-date=December 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215174114/https://www.press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/H/bo28381225.html|url-status=live}}
* {{Cite news|url=https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2018/10/25/suffocation-of-democracy|title=The Suffocation of Democracy|last=Browning|first=Christopher R.|work=The New York Review of Books|access-date=October 6, 2018|archive-date=October 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181005120644/https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2018/10/25/suffocation-of-democracy/|url-status=live}}
* {{cite book|url=http://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674046832|title=The Promise of Party in a Polarized Age|last=Muirhead|first=Russell|date=September 8, 2014 |publisher=Harvard University Press|page=254|isbn=9780674046832 |access-date=March 14, 2019|archive-date=October 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181008151351/http://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674046832|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Levitsky-2018" /><ref name="Mann-2017" /><ref name="Mounk-2018" />

In October 2010, McConnell said, "the single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president." Asked whether this meant "endless, or at least frequent, confrontation with the president", McConnell said, "if [Obama is] willing to meet us halfway on some of the biggest issues, it's not inappropriate for us to do business with him."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/when-did-mcconnell-say-he-wanted-to-make-obama-a-one-term-president/2012/09/24/79fd5cd8-0696-11e2-afff-d6c7f20a83bf_blog.html|title=When did McConnell say he wanted to make Obama a 'one-term president'?|author=Kessler, Glenn|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=September 25, 2012|access-date=September 14, 2014|archive-date=August 22, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140822191007/http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/when-did-mcconnell-say-he-wanted-to-make-obama-a-one-term-president/2012/09/24/79fd5cd8-0696-11e2-afff-d6c7f20a83bf_blog.html|url-status=live}}</ref> According to political scientists Jacob Hacker and Paul Pierson, "Facing off against Obama, [McConnell] worked to deny even minimal Republican support for major presidential initiatives—initiatives that were, as a rule, in keeping with the moderate model of decades past, and often with moderate Republican stances of a few years past."<ref name="amnesia">{{Cite book|url=http://www.simonandschuster.com/books/American-Amnesia/Jacob-S-Hacker/9781451667837|title=American Amnesia|last1=Hacker|first1=Jacob|last2=Pierson|first2=Paul|publisher=Simon and Schuster|year=2017|isbn=9781451667837|access-date=October 6, 2018|archive-date=November 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181118185320/http://www.simonandschuster.com/books/American-Amnesia/Jacob-S-Hacker/9781451667837|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[The New York Times]]'' wrote early in Obama's administration that "on the major issues—not just health care, but financial regulation and the economic stimulus package, among others—Mr. McConnell has held Republican defections to somewhere between minimal and nonexistent, allowing him to slow the Democratic agenda if not defeat aspects of it."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/17/us/politics/17mcconnell.html|title=McConnell Strategy Shuns Bipartisanship|last=Nagourney|first=[[Carl Hulse]] and Adam|work=[[The New York Times]] |date=March 17, 2010 |access-date=October 5, 2018|language=en|archive-date=March 30, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330103528/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/17/us/politics/17mcconnell.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The Republican caucus threatened repeatedly to force the United States to default on its debt, McConnell saying he had learned from the [[United States debt-ceiling crisis of 2011|2011 debt-ceiling crisis]] that "it's a hostage that's worth ransoming".<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/605403/fault-lines-by-kevin-m-kruse/9780393088663|title=Fault Lines: A History of the United States Since 1974|last1=Kruse|first1=Kevin|last2=Zelizer|first2=Julian|publisher=W.W. Norton|year=2019|access-date=January 14, 2019|archive-date=January 14, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190114210912/https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/605403/fault-lines-by-kevin-m-kruse/9780393088663|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Fishkin-2018">{{Cite news|url=https://columbialawreview.org/content/asymmetric-constitutional-hardball/|title=Asymmetric Constitutional Hardball|last1=Fishkin|first1=Joseph|date=2018|work=Columbia Law Review|last2=Pozen|first2=David E.|archive-date=January 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190119095233/https://columbialawreview.org/content/asymmetric-constitutional-hardball/|url-status=live}}</ref>

McConnell worked to delay and obstruct [[Affordable Care Act|health care reform]] and [[Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act|banking reform]], two of the most notable pieces of legislation that Democrats navigated through Congress early in Obama's tenure.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781442258723/Party-and-Procedure-in-the-United-States-Congress-Second-Edition|title=Party and Procedure in the United States Congress, Second Edition|last=Koger|first=Gregory|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|year=2016|page=223|access-date=October 11, 2018|archive-date=October 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011214754/https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781442258723/Party-and-Procedure-in-the-United-States-Congress-Second-Edition|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Schickler-2011">{{Cite journal|last1=Schickler|first1=Eric|last2=Wawro|first2=Gregory J.|date=January 3, 2011|title=What the Filibuster Tells Us About the Senate|journal=The Forum|language=en|volume=9|issue=4|doi=10.2202/1540-8884.1483|s2cid=144114653|issn=1540-8884}}</ref> Political scientists noted that "by slowing action even on measures supported by many Republicans, McConnell capitalized on the scarcity of floor time, forcing Democratic leaders into difficult trade-offs concerning which measures were worth pursuing. ... Slowing the Senate's ability to process even routine measures limited the sheer volume of liberal bills that could be adopted."<ref name="Schickler-2011" />

=====Use of the filibuster=====
One of McConnell's most common tactics as minority leader to delay or obstruct legislation and judicial appointments was the [[Filibuster in the United States Senate|filibuster]]. A filibuster is an attempt to "talk a bill to death", forcing Senate leadership to abandon a proposed measure instead of waiting out the filibuster―or at least to delay the measure's passage. In the Senate, any senator may speak for unlimited duration unless a 60-person majority votes to invoke [[cloture]], or end debate, and proceed to a final vote. Political scientists have referred to McConnell's use of the filibuster as "[[constitutional hardball]]", referring to the misuse of procedural tools in a way that undermines democracy.<ref name="amnesia" /><ref name="Fishkin-2018" /><ref name="Levitsky-2018">{{cite web|url=https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/562246/how-democracies-die-by-steven-levitsky-and-daniel-ziblatt/9781524762933/|title=How Democracies Die|last1=Levitsky|first1=Steven|last2=Ziblatt|first2=Daniel|date=2018|publisher=Penguin Randomhouse|access-date=March 14, 2019|archive-date=December 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181211150321/https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/562246/how-democracies-die-by-steven-levitsky-and-daniel-ziblatt/9781524762933/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2018/12/11/wisconsins-and-michigans-legislatures-are-trying-to-weaken-incoming-governors-should-you-be-worried/|title=Republicans in Wisconsin and Michigan want to weaken incoming Democratic governors. Here's what's the usual partisan politics – and what isn't.|last=Glassman|first=Matt|date=2018|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=March 14, 2019|archive-date=December 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181211132519/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2018/12/11/wisconsins-and-michigans-legislatures-are-trying-to-weaken-incoming-governors-should-you-be-worried/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Political scientists Hacker and Pierson describe the rationale behind McConnell's filibusters: "Filibusters left no fingerprints. When voters heard that legislation had been 'defeated', journalists rarely highlighted that this defeat meant a minority had blocked a majority. Not only did this strategy produce an atmosphere of gridlock and dysfunction; it also chewed up the Senate calendar, restricting the range of issues on which Democrats could progress."<ref name="amnesia" />

In 2013, Senate Majority Leader [[Harry Reid]] [[Nuclear option|eliminated the filibuster]] for all presidential nominations except the Supreme Court. By that time, nearly half of all votes to invoke cloture in the history of the Senate had occurred during Obama's presidency.<ref name="Mann-2017">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/09/gop-decay-of-political-norms/540165/|title=How the GOP Prompted the Decay of Political Norms |author1=E.J. Dionne Jr. |author2=Norm Ornstein |author3=Thomas E. Mann |date=September 19, 2017|work=[[The Atlantic]]|access-date=October 8, 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=October 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181008061326/https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/09/gop-decay-of-political-norms/540165/|url-status=live}}</ref> In April 2017, Senate Republicans led by McConnell eliminated the filibuster for Supreme Court nominations in order to end debate on the nomination of [[Neil Gorsuch]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/mcconnell-went-nuclear-confirm-gorsuch-democrats-changed-senate-filibuster-rules-n887271|title=McConnell went 'nuclear' to confirm Gorsuch. But Democrats changed Senate filibuster rules first.|work=[[NBC News]]|author=Timm, Jane C.|date=June 28, 2018|access-date=December 27, 2018|archive-date=December 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181212052906/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/mcconnell-went-nuclear-confirm-gorsuch-democrats-changed-senate-filibuster-rules-n887271|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/republicans-go-nuclear-bust-through-democratic-filibuster-on-gorsuch|title=Republicans go 'nuclear,' bust through Democratic filibuster on Gorsuch|work=[[Fox News]]|author=Berger, Judson|date=April 6, 2017|access-date=December 27, 2018|archive-date=August 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180804090917/http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/04/06/republicans-go-nuclear-bust-through-democratic-filibuster-on-gorsuch.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/senate-approves-nuclear-option-fight-gorsuch-supreme-court/story?id=46608672|title=Senate approves 'nuclear option,' clears path for Neil Gorsuch Supreme Court nomination vote|work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|author=Rogin, Ali|access-date=December 27, 2018|date=April 6, 2017|archive-date=August 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190804055718/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/senate-approves-nuclear-option-fight-gorsuch-supreme-court/story?id=46608672|url-status=live}}</ref> In August 2019, McConnell wrote an editorial for ''[[The New York Times]]'' strongly opposing the elimination of the filibuster on legislation.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mitch McConnell: The Filibuster Plays a Crucial Role in Our Constitutional Order|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/22/opinion/mitch-mcconnell-senate-filibuster.html|author=McConnell, Mitch|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=August 22, 2019|access-date=September 18, 2020|archive-date=September 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200903042823/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/22/opinion/mitch-mcconnell-senate-filibuster.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Trump ====
[[File:Trump, Pence, Ryan, McConnell celebrate tax cut passage.jpg|thumb|right|[[Donald Trump]], [[Mike Pence]], [[Paul Ryan]], and McConnell celebrate the passage of the [[Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017]], December 2017.]]
McConnell initially endorsed fellow Kentucky senator [[Rand Paul]] for president in 2016. Paul withdrew from the race after the Iowa caucuses, and McConnell endorsed presumptive nominee [[Donald Trump]] on May 4, 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bradner |first=Eric |date=May 5, 2016 |title=McConnell 'committed to supporting' Trump |url=https://www.cnn.com/2016/05/04/politics/mitch-mcconnell-donald-trump-republican-nominee/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200820073222/https://www.cnn.com/2016/05/04/politics/mitch-mcconnell-donald-trump-republican-nominee/index.html |archive-date=August 20, 2020 |access-date=September 18, 2020 |website=[[CNN]]}}</ref> But McConnell disagreed with Trump on many occasions. In May 2016, after Trump suggested that federal judge [[Gonzalo P. Curiel]] was biased against Trump because of his [[Mexican-American|Mexican heritage]], McConnell said: "I don't agree with what [Trump] had to say. This is a man who was born in Indiana. All of us came here from somewhere else." In July 2016, after Trump criticized the parents of [[Humayun Khan (soldier)|Humayun Khan]], a [[Muslim-American]] soldier who was killed in Iraq, McConnell said, "All Americans should value the patriotic service of the patriots who volunteer to selflessly defend us in the armed services." On October 7, 2016, following the [[Donald Trump Access Hollywood controversy|Donald Trump ''Access Hollywood'' controversy]], McConnell said, "As the father of three daughters, I strongly believe that Trump needs to apologize directly to women and girls everywhere, and take full responsibility for the utter lack of respect for women shown in his comments on that tape."<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Buchanan |first1=Larry |last2=Parlapiano |first2=Alicia |last3=Yourish |first3=Karen |date=October 8, 2016 |title=Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell Reject Donald Trump's Words, Over and Over, but Not His Candidacy |newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/10/08/us/politics/how-paul-ryan-and-mitch-mcconnell-have-disavowed-trumps-words-but-not-their-support.html |url-status=live |access-date=October 8, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161008101619/http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/10/08/us/politics/how-paul-ryan-and-mitch-mcconnell-have-disavowed-trumps-words-but-not-their-support.html |archive-date=October 8, 2016 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> In private, McConnell reportedly expresses disdain for Trump<ref>{{cite magazine |author=Mayer, Jane |date=April 12, 2020 |title=How Mitch McConnell Became Trump's Enabler-In-Chief |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/04/20/how-mitch-mcconnell-became-trumps-enabler-in-chief |url-status=live |magazine=[[The New Yorker]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919035353/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/04/20/how-mitch-mcconnell-became-trumps-enabler-in-chief |archive-date=September 19, 2020 |access-date=September 18, 2020}}</ref> and "abhors" his behavior.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mennel |first1=Eric |last2=McEvers |first2=Kelly |last3=Dreisbach |first3=Tom |date=July 11, 2019 |title='You May Need The Money More Than I Do': McConnell Once Returned Trump's Donation |work=npr.org |url=https://www.npr.org/2019/07/11/736047999/you-may-need-the-money-more-than-i-do-mcconnell-once-returned-trump-s-donation |url-status=live |access-date=September 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200823222825/https://www.npr.org/2019/07/11/736047999/you-may-need-the-money-more-than-i-do-mcconnell-once-returned-trump-s-donation |archive-date=August 23, 2020}}</ref>

In October 2017, White House chief strategist [[Stephen Bannon]] and other Trump allies blamed McConnell for stalling the Trump administration's legislation. In response, McConnell cited [[Neil Gorsuch]]'s confirmation to the Supreme Court to show that the Senate supported Trump's agenda.<ref>{{cite news |author=Uria, Daniel |date=October 22, 2017 |title=Mitch McConnell fires back at criticism against GOP |newspaper=UPI |url=https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2017/10/22/Mitch-McConnell-fires-back-at-criticism-against-GOP/8551508697632/ |url-status=live |access-date=September 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804053601/https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2017/10/22/Mitch-McConnell-fires-back-at-criticism-against-GOP/8551508697632/ |archive-date=August 4, 2020}}</ref>

After [[Joe Biden]] defeated Trump in the 2020 election, McConnell at first refused to recognize Biden as the winner.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Watkins |first1=Morgan |title=In Senate speech, Mitch McConnell again won't acknowledge Joe Biden's victory over Trump |url=https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/2020/11/09/mitch-mcconnell-refuses-to-acknowledge-joe-bidens-victory-over-trump/6222737002/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210318000055/https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/2020/11/09/mitch-mcconnell-refuses-to-acknowledge-joe-bidens-victory-over-trump/6222737002/ |archive-date=March 18, 2021 |access-date=November 10, 2020 |website=The Courier-Journal}}</ref><ref name="nyt2020Election">{{Cite news |last1=Cochrane |first1=Emily |last2=Fandos |first2=Nicholas |date=November 9, 2020 |title=President-Elect Joe Biden's Transition: Live Updates as McConnell Backs Trump's Refusal to Concede |language=en-US |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2020/11/09/us/joe-biden-trump |url-status=live |access-date=November 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201110213255/https://www.nytimes.com/live/2020/11/09/us/joe-biden-trump |archive-date=November 10, 2020 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Swanson |first1=Ian |date=November 9, 2020 |title=McConnell declines in floor speech to congratulate Biden as president-elect |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/525177-mcconnell-declines-in-floor-speech-to-congratulate-biden-as-president-elect/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201110122826/https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/525177-mcconnell-declines-in-floor-speech-to-congratulate-biden-as-president-elect |archive-date=November 10, 2020 |access-date=November 10, 2020 |website=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]}}</ref> In his public statements, McConnell did not repeat any of Trump's false claims of voter fraud, but did not contradict them, ignoring questions about evidence and instead arguing that Trump had the right to challenge the results.<ref name="nyt2020Election" /><ref name="politico2020Election">{{cite web |title=McConnell-led Republicans hold steady against Trump concession |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/11/09/mcconnell-backs-trump-election-435506 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201110224951/https://www.politico.com/news/2020/11/09/mcconnell-backs-trump-election-435506 |archive-date=November 10, 2020 |access-date=November 10, 2020 |website=[[Politico]]|date=November 9, 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Shepherd |first1=Katie |title=GOP splits over Trump's false election claims, unfounded fraud allegations |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/11/06/republicans-split-trump-election-fraud/ |url-status=live |access-date=November 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116035335/https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/11/06/republicans-split-trump-election-fraud/ |archive-date=November 16, 2020 |issn=0190-8286 |via=www.washingtonpost.com}}</ref> At the same time that McConnell refused to recognize Biden, he celebrated Republicans who won their Senate and House races in the same elections.<ref name="nyt2020Election" /><ref name="politico2020Election" /><ref>{{cite web |last1=Axios |date=November 9, 2020 |title=McConnell defends Trump's refusal to concede to Biden |url=https://www.axios.com/mcconnell-defends-trump-election-concede-b141484c-a5b7-470c-adc2-bf99d6ed9f4a.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201110071726/https://www.axios.com/mcconnell-defends-trump-election-concede-b141484c-a5b7-470c-adc2-bf99d6ed9f4a.html |archive-date=November 10, 2020 |access-date=November 10, 2020 |website=[[Axios (website)|Axios]]}}</ref>

On December 15, the day after the electoral college vote, McConnell reversed his stance and publicly acknowledged Biden's win, saying, "Today, I want to congratulate President-elect Joe Biden."<ref>{{cite news |date=December 15, 2020 |title=McConnell for the first time recognizes Biden as President-elect |publisher=[[CNN]] |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/15/politics/mitch-mcconnell-congratulates-joe-biden/index.html |access-date=December 15, 2020 |archive-date=December 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201215154311/https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/15/politics/mitch-mcconnell-congratulates-joe-biden/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> On January 6, during the [[2021 United States Electoral College vote count|Electoral College vote count]], McConnell spoke out against the [[Attempts to overturn the 2020 United States presidential election|efforts of Trump and his allies to overturn the election]]:

{{blockquote|Trump claims the election was stolen. The assertions range from specific local allegations to constitutional arguments to sweeping conspiracy theories ... nothing before us proves illegality anywhere near the massive scale—the massive scale—that would have tipped the entire election. ... If this election were overturned by mere allegations from the losing side, our democracy would enter a death spiral. We'd never see the whole nation accept an election again. Every four years would be a scramble for power at any cost.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Phillips |first1=Amber |title=Analysis {{!}} Mitch McConnell's forceful rejection of Trump's election 'conspiracy theories' |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/01/06/mitch-mcconnells-forceful-rejection-trumps-election-conspiracy-theories/ |access-date=January 8, 2021 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=January 6, 2021 |archive-date=January 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107203528/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/01/06/mitch-mcconnells-forceful-rejection-trumps-election-conspiracy-theories/ |url-status=live }}</ref>}}

Later that day, he described the [[January 6 United States Capitol attack|storming of the Capitol building]] (which occurred while the Electoral College votes were being counted) as a "failed insurrection" that "tried to disrupt our democracy".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fandos |first1=Nicholas |last2=Cochrane |first2=Emily |last3=Sullivan |first3=Eileen |last4=Thrush |first4=Glenn |last5=Kanno-Youngs |first5=Zolan |last6=Martin |first6=Jonathan |date=January 6, 2021 |title=Resuming electoral counting, McConnell condemns the mob assault on the Capitol as a 'failed insurrection.' |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/06/us/politics/insurrection.html |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=January 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107042449/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/06/us/politics/insurrection.html |archive-date=January 7, 2021}}</ref>

On April 10, 2021, Trump called McConnell a "dumb son of a bitch". Trump added: "I hired his wife. Did he ever say thank you?"<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dawsey |first=Josh |title=Trump slashes at McConnell as he reiterates election falsehoods at Republican event |language=en-US |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-mcconnell-election/2021/04/11/297a82da-9879-11eb-962b-78c1d8228819_story.html |access-date=April 11, 2021 |issn=0190-8286 |archive-date=April 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411113504/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-mcconnell-election/2021/04/11/297a82da-9879-11eb-962b-78c1d8228819_story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Trump has continued to attack McConnell in personal terms since then, but McConnell has not responded publicly.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 15, 2021 |title=Trump blames election loss on "suppression polling," attacks Pence and "pathetic" McConnell |url=https://www.newsweek.com/trump-blames-election-loss-suppression-polling-attacks-pence-pathetic-mcconnell-1591853 |website=[[Newsweek]] |access-date=May 18, 2021 |archive-date=May 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518011025/https://www.newsweek.com/trump-blames-election-loss-suppression-polling-attacks-pence-pathetic-mcconnell-1591853 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>Paul Cantanese, McClatchy reporter. (December 21, 2021). "If you can't beat him, ignore him. How McConnell survived a year of Trump's attacks". [https://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article256766102.html Lexington Herald-Leader website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211224001820/https://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article256766102.html |date=December 24, 2021 }} Retrieved December 22, 2021.</ref>

=====First impeachment=====
{{Main|First impeachment of Donald Trump}}
On November 5, 2019, as the [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] began public hearings on the impeachment of President Trump, McConnell said, "I'm pretty sure how [an impeachment trial is] likely to end. ... If it were today, I don't think there's any question. It would not lead to a removal."<ref>{{cite web |author=Levine, Marianne |date=November 5, 2019 |title=McConnell says Senate would acquit Trump if trial held today |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2019/11/05/mcconell-senate-acquit-trump-066103 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030221116/https://www.politico.com/news/2019/11/05/mcconell-senate-acquit-trump-066103 |archive-date=October 30, 2020 |access-date=September 18, 2020 |work=[[Politico]]}}</ref>

On December 14, 2019, McConnell met with White House counsel [[Pat Cipollone]] and White House legislative affairs director [[Eric Ueland]]. Later that day, he said that for Trump's impeachment trial, he would be in "total coordination with the White House counsel's office" and Trump's representatives.<ref name="dictatetrial">{{cite news |last1=Blake |first1=Aaron |date=December 14, 2019 |title=McConnell indicates he'll let Trump's lawyers dictate Trump's impeachment trial |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/12/13/mcconnell-says-hell-let-trumps-white-house-dictate-trumps-impeachment-trial/ |url-status=live |access-date=December 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219124528/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/12/13/mcconnell-says-hell-let-trumps-white-house-dictate-trumps-impeachment-trial/ |archive-date=December 19, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Carney |first=Jordain |date=December 12, 2019 |title=McConnell says he'll be in 'total coordination' with White House on impeachment trial strategy |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/474399-mcconnell-says-hell-be-in-total-coordination-with-white-house-on-impeachment/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201120195811/https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/474399-mcconnell-says-hell-be-in-total-coordination-with-white-house-on-impeachment |archive-date=November 20, 2020 |access-date=December 20, 2019 |work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]}}</ref> He also said there was "no chance" the Senate would convict Trump and remove him from office.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Egan |first1=Lauren |date=December 13, 2019 |title=McConnell: 'There's no chance' Trump is removed from office |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-impeachment-inquiry/mcconnell-there-s-no-chance-trump-removed-office-n1101286 |url-status=live |access-date=December 16, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215202600/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-impeachment-inquiry/mcconnell-there-s-no-chance-trump-removed-office-n1101286 |archive-date=December 15, 2019}}</ref>

On December 17, 2019, McConnell rejected a request to call four witnesses for Trump's impeachment trial because, according to McConnell, the Senate's role was to "act as judge and jury", not to investigate. Later that day, McConnell told the media: "I'm not an impartial juror [in this impeachment trial]. This is a political process. There's not anything judicial about it."<ref>{{cite news |author=Coogan, Steve |date=December 17, 2019 |title=Trump impeachment debate |work=[[USA Today]] |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/nletter/onpolitics/2019/12/17/impeachment-mcconnell-shuts-down-democrats-house-panel-debates-rules/2678381001/ |url-status=live |access-date=December 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191220140322/https://amp.usatoday.com/amp/2678381001 |archive-date=December 20, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Morgan |first1=David |last2=Cornwell |first2=Susan |date=December 17, 2019 |title=On eve of expected impeachment, Trump lashes out at Pelosi, Democrats |work=[[Reuters]] |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-impeachment/top-senate-republican-opposes-demand-for-witnesses-in-trump-impeachment-trial-idUSKBN1YL15V?il=0 |url-status=live |access-date=December 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201120195825/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-impeachment/top-senate-republican-opposes-demand-for-witnesses-in-trump-impeachment-trial-idUSKBN1YL15V?il=0 |archive-date=November 20, 2020}}</ref>

After Trump's acquittal, McConnell was noted for his ability to block witnesses, to secure Trump's acquittal, and to maintain party unity during the impeachment process. Commentators noted that he had kept Republican senators "marching in lockstep" throughout the process.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bolton |first1=Alexander |date=February 7, 2020 |title=McConnell displays mastery of Senate with impeachment victory |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/481953-mcconnell-displays-mastery-of-senate-with-impeachment-victory/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217072734/https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/481953-mcconnell-displays-mastery-of-senate-with-impeachment-victory |archive-date=February 17, 2020 |access-date=February 18, 2020 |website=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Cillizza |first1=Chris |date=January 31, 2020 |title=How Mitch McConnell pulled off a near-impossible impeachment feat |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/31/politics/mitch-mcconnell-donald-trump-senate-impeachment-trial/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200218045052/https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/31/politics/mitch-mcconnell-donald-trump-senate-impeachment-trial/index.html |archive-date=February 18, 2020 |access-date=February 18, 2020 |website=[[CNN]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Fritze |first1=John |last2=Wu |first2=Nicholas |last3=Jackson |first3=David |title=Charm, patience and Twitter tactics: How Trump, McConnell kept GOP in line on impeachment |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/02/06/senate-impeachment-trial-how-trump-mcconnell-kept-gop-line/4669695002/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200218072817/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/02/06/senate-impeachment-trial-how-trump-mcconnell-kept-gop-line/4669695002/ |archive-date=February 18, 2020 |access-date=February 18, 2020 |website=[[USA Today]]}}</ref>

=====Second impeachment=====
{{Main|Second impeachment of Donald Trump}}

On January 12, 2021, it was reported that 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.<ref>{{cite news |title=McConnell is said to be pleased about impeachment, believing it will be easier to purge Trump from the G.O.P. |work=[[The New York Times]]|date=January 12, 2021 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/12/us/mitch-mcconnell-trump-impeachment.html |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=January 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112214332/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/12/us/mitch-mcconnell-trump-impeachment.html |archive-date=January 12, 2021|last1=Martin |first1=Jonathan |last2=Haberman |first2=Maggie }}</ref> On January 13, despite having the authority to call for an emergency meeting of the Senate to hold the Senate trial,{{failed verification|date=April 2021}} McConnell did not reconvene the chamber, claiming unanimous consent was required.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bolton |first1=Alexander |date=January 13, 2021 |title=McConnell won't agree to reconvene Senate early for impeachment trial |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/534053-mcconnell-wont-agree-to-reconvene-senate-early-for-impeachment-trial/ |access-date=February 14, 2021 |website=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] |publisher=Capitol Hill Publishing Corp. |archive-date=January 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210113193717/https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/534053-mcconnell-wont-agree-to-reconvene-senate-early-for-impeachment-trial |url-status=live }}</ref> He called for delaying the Senate trial until after Biden's inauguration.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Watkins |first=Morgan |title=In Senate vote, McConnell opposes Trump impeachment trial's constitutionality |url=https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/2021/02/09/big-vote-mitch-mcconnell-opposes-trump-trials-constitutionality/4454794001/ |access-date=May 11, 2021 |website=The Courier-Journal |language=en-US |archive-date=January 29, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129062342/https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/2021/02/09/big-vote-mitch-mcconnell-opposes-trump-trials-constitutionality/4454794001/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Once the Senate trial started, McConnell voted to acquit Trump on February 13, 2021, saying it was unconstitutional to convict a president who was no longer in office.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Berman |first=Ari |title=Mitch McConnell delayed Trump's impeachment trial. Now he says the delay makes it unconstitutional. |url=https://www.motherjones.com/mojo-wire/2021/02/mitch-mcconnell-delayed-trumps-impeachment-trial-now-he-says-the-delay-makes-it-unconstitutional/ |access-date=May 11, 2021 |website=[[Mother Jones (magazine)|Mother Jones]] |language=en-US |archive-date=April 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419074210/https://www.motherjones.com/mojo-wire/2021/02/mitch-mcconnell-delayed-trumps-impeachment-trial-now-he-says-the-delay-makes-it-unconstitutional/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The vote to convict was a bipartisan majority ([[Second impeachment trial of Donald Trump#Verdict|57–43]]) but not enough to pass the two-thirds threshold.<ref>{{cite web |title=Trump acquitted, denounced in historic impeachment trial |url=https://www.startribune.com/trump-acquitted-denounced-in-historic-impeachment-trial/600022669/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210219215356/https://www.startribune.com/trump-acquitted-denounced-in-historic-impeachment-trial/600022669/ |archive-date=February 19, 2021 |access-date=February 13, 2021 |website=Star Tribune}}</ref> After the vote, McConnell lambasted and condemned Trump in a 20-minute speech on the Senate floor, saying he believed Trump was guilty of everything the House managers alleged.<ref>{{cite news |title=McConnell: 'Trump is still liable for everything he did' – read full speech |url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/mcconnell-trump-is-still-liable-for-everything-he-did-read-full-speech-11613254884 |access-date=February 13, 2021 |website=[[MarketWatch]] |archive-date=February 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213223047/https://www.marketwatch.com/story/mcconnell-trump-is-still-liable-for-everything-he-did-read-full-speech-11613254884 |url-status=live |author1=Marketwatch }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=McConnell blames Trump but voted not guilty anyway|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/13/politics/mitch-mcconnell-acquit-trump/index.html|access-date=February 13, 2021|website=[[CNN]]|first1=Alex|last1=Rogers|first2=Manu|last2=Raju|date=February 13, 2021|archive-date=February 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214025808/https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/13/politics/mitch-mcconnell-acquit-trump/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He said:

{{blockquote|Former President Trump's actions preceding the riot were a disgraceful dereliction of duty ... There is no question that President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of that day ... If President Trump were still in office, I would have carefully considered whether the House managers proved their specific charge.<ref name="republicanleader.senate.gov">{{cite web |title=McConnell on Impeachment: 'Disgraceful Dereliction"" Cannot Lead Senate to 'Defy Our Own Constitutional Guardrails' |url=https://www.republicanleader.senate.gov/newsroom/remarks/mcconnell-on-impeachment-disgraceful-dereliction-cannot-lead-senate-to-defy-our-own-constitutional-guardrails |access-date=February 13, 2021 |website=republicanleader.senate.gov |archive-date=February 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213231557/https://www.republicanleader.senate.gov/newsroom/remarks/mcconnell-on-impeachment-disgraceful-dereliction-cannot-lead-senate-to-defy-our-own-constitutional-guardrails |url-status=live }}</ref>}}

He explained why he nonetheless voted to acquit: "Article&nbsp;II, Section&nbsp;4 must have force. It tells us the President, Vice President, and civil officers may be impeached and convicted. Donald Trump is no longer the president. Clearly that mandatory sentence cannot be applied to somebody who has left office. The entire process revolves around removal. If removal becomes impossible, conviction becomes insensible." Yet he said that Trump "didn't get away with anything yet" since Trump would remain subject to the country's criminal and civil laws.<ref name="republicanleader.senate.gov" />

When there was a proposal for an independent [[January 6 commission|commission to investigate the January 6 United States Capitol attack]], McConnell sought to organize Republican senators to filibuster it,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Senate Republicans prepared to block Jan. 6 commission |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2021/05/27/republicans-to-block-january-6-commission-491162 |access-date=May 27, 2021 |website=[[Politico]] |first=Burgess |last=Everett |date=May 27, 2021 |language=en |archive-date=June 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210601030852/https://www.politico.com/news/2021/05/27/republicans-to-block-january-6-commission-491162 |url-status=live }}</ref> and on May 28, 2021, he voted against its creation.<ref>{{cite news |date=May 28, 2021 |title=Which senators supported a Jan. 6 Capitol riot commission |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/interactive/2021/january6-commission-senators-vote/ |access-date=May 29, 2021 |archive-date=May 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210526225939/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/interactive/2021/january6-commission-senators-vote/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=====Second term=====
McConnell stepped down as Senate Republican leader in 2024, months before the [[2024 United States elections]]. [[John Thune]] was elected to succeed him after Republicans regained the majority in the [[2024 United States Senate elections|2024 U.S. Senate elections]].<ref name="Price of Power">{{cite book | last=Tackett | first=Michael | title=The Price of Power: How Mitch McConnell Mastered the Senate, Changed America, and Lost His Party | publisher=Simon and Schuster | publication-place=New York | date=2024 | isbn=978-1-6680-0584-2|quote=Featuring expert reporting, unprecedented access, and never-before-published revelations, ''The Price of Power'' is an inside portrait of exactly that—what it takes to achieve power, maintain it, deploy it, and, finally, watch it slip out of your hands.}}</ref>

McConnell has been described as largely irrelevant in Trump's second term.<ref name="Irrelevant">{{Cite web|url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/mcconnell-finally-defies-trump-now-that-hes-irrelevant.html|title=McConnell Finally Defies Trump, Now That He's Irrelevant|date=February 12, 2025|first1=Ed|last1=Kilgore|website=New York Magazine|access-date=February 12, 2025|archive-date=February 24, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250224120741/https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/mcconnell-finally-defies-trump-now-that-hes-irrelevant.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He has voted against three of Trump's cabinet nominees: [[Pete Hegseth]] for [[United States Secretary of Defense|Secretary of Defense]], [[Tulsi Gabbard]] for the [[Director of National Intelligence]], and [[Robert F. Kennedy Jr.]] for [[United States Secretary of Health and Human Services|Secretary of Health and Human Services]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/02/12/mcconnell-resistance-trump-votes/|title=Welcome to the resistance? Mitch McConnell bucks Trump with 'no' votes.|quote=Democrats heap praise on their former foe, while his GOP colleagues express disappointment.|date=February 11, 2025|access-date=February 12, 2025|first1=Liz|last1=Goodwin|first2=Hannah|last2=Knowles|newspaper=The Washington Post|archive-date=April 10, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250410161502/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/02/12/mcconnell-resistance-trump-votes/|url-status=live}}</ref>

McConnell has announced he will retire at the end of his term in 2027, when he will be 84 years old.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2025/03/mitch-mcconnell-legacy-trump/681951/|title=Mitch McConnell and the President He Calls 'Despicable'|date=March 7, 2025|first1=Mark|last1=Leibovich|website=The Atlantic|access-date=March 7, 2025|archive-date=April 30, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250430050220/https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2025/03/mitch-mcconnell-legacy-trump/681951/|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Biden====
McConnell's relationship with the Biden administration has been portrayed in media as one of comity. Biden has described McConnell as "a friend, colleague and 'man of his word.'" McConnell has praised bipartisan legislation they worked on together, and was the only Republican to attend the 2015 funeral of Biden's son [[Beau Biden]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.politico.com/news/2023/01/04/biden-kentucky-mcconnell-00076303 | title=Biden and McConnell's visit to Kentucky signals White House roadmap for next 2 years under split Congress | website=[[Politico]] | date=January 4, 2023 | access-date=January 6, 2023 | archive-date=January 6, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230106185203/https://www.politico.com/news/2023/01/04/biden-kentucky-mcconnell-00076303 | url-status=live }}</ref>

In October 2021, McConnell helped pass a bill that extended the [[United States debt ceiling|debt ceiling]]. He convinced 11 Republicans to vote with the Democrats for it, without which the United States would have defaulted on its debts.<ref name="BBCdebt21">{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-58820071 | title=Debt ceiling: What's next for the US debt limit | publisher=[[BBC News]] | date=October 15, 2021 | accessdate=May 27, 2023 | archive-date=May 25, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230525174756/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-58820071 | url-status=live }}</ref>

===Judicial nominees===
====Under Obama====
{{See also|Barack Obama Supreme Court candidates|Barack Obama judicial appointment controversies}}

Throughout Obama's tenure, McConnell led Senate Republicans in what has been called "a disciplined, sustained, at times underhanded campaign to deny the Democratic president the opportunity to appoint federal judges".<ref name=McRemake>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/22/magazine/trump-remaking-courts-judiciary.html|title=How the Trump Administration Is Remaking the Courts|author=Zengerle, Jason|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=August 22, 2018|access-date=September 20, 2018|language=en|archive-date=September 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180920111556/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/22/magazine/trump-remaking-courts-judiciary.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In June 2009, after Obama nominated [[Sonia Sotomayor]] as associate justice, McConnell and [[Jeff Sessions]] opined that 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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/03/us/politics/03judge.html|title=Parties Plot Strategy as Sotomayor Visits Capitol|date=June 2, 2009|first1=David M.|last1=Herszenhorn|first2=Carl|last2=Hulse|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=September 18, 2020|archive-date=October 16, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111016064816/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/03/us/politics/03judge.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On July 17, McConnell announced that he would vote against Sotomayor's confirmation.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/article24546766.html|title=McConnell, Bunning agree: They'll vote no on Sotomayor|author=Abdullah, Halimah|work=McClatchyDC|date=July 17, 2009|access-date=September 18, 2020|archive-date=November 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117111641/https://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/article24546766.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In August, McConnell called Sotomayor "a fine person with an impressive story and a distinguished background" but said he did not believe she would withhold her personal or political views while serving as a justice. Sotomayor was confirmed days later.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/07/us/politics/07confirm.html|title=Sotomayor Confirmed by Senate, 68-31|first=Charlie|last=Savage|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=August 6, 2009|access-date=September 18, 2020|archive-date=September 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919051849/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/07/us/politics/07confirm.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In May 2010, after President Obama nominated [[Elena Kagan]] to succeed the retiring [[John Paul Stevens]], McConnell said in a Senate speech that Americans wanted to make sure Kagan would be independent of influence from White House as an associate justice and noted that Obama called Kagan a friend of his in announcing her nomination.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-court-kagan/top-republican-challenges-kagans-independence-idUSTRE6490DU20100512|title=Top Republican challenges Kagan's independence|author=Ferraro, Thomas|date=May 12, 2010|work=[[Reuters]]|access-date=September 18, 2020|archive-date=August 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804042252/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-court-kagan/top-republican-challenges-kagans-independence-idUSTRE6490DU20100512|url-status=live}}</ref> McConnell announced his opposition to Kagan's confirmation, saying she was not forthcoming enough about her "views on basic principles of American constitutional law".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/02/mcconnell-opposes-kagan/|title=McConnell Opposes Kagan|date=July 2, 2010|author=Stolberg, Sheryl Gay|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=January 2, 2019|archive-date=September 21, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180921130555/https://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/02/mcconnell-opposes-kagan/|url-status=live}}</ref> Kagan was confirmed the next month.<ref>{{cite web |last=Arce |first=Dwyer |url=https://www.jurist.org/news/2010/08/senate-votes-to-confirm-kagan-to-supreme-court |title = Senate votes to confirm Kagan to Supreme Court |date= August 5, 2010 |access-date = December 15, 2010 |publisher = [[JURIST]] |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110727205404/http://jurist.org/paperchase/2010/08/senate-votes-to-confirm-kagan-to-supreme-court.php |archive-date = July 27, 2011|url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2014, Republicans gained control of the Senate, and McConnell became majority leader; he used his new power to start what was considered "a near blockade" of Obama's judicial appointments. According to ''The New York Times'', Obama's final two years as president saw 18 district court judges and one appeals court judge confirmed, the fewest since President [[Harry S. Truman]]. In comparison, the final two years of the presidencies of [[George W. Bush]], [[Bill Clinton]], and [[Ronald Reagan]] had between 55 and 70 district court judges each confirmed and between 10 and 15 appeals court judges confirmed.<ref name=McRemake/> The ''Los Angeles Times'' wrote that McConnell brought about an "extraordinary two-year slowdown in judicial confirmations", detailing 22 confirmations of Obama's judicial nominees, the lowest since Truman in 1951–1952. The number of federal judicial vacancies at the end of Obama's term was more than twice the number at the end of George W. Bush's term.{{efn|According to the [[Congressional Research Service]], on the first day of 2015, Obama had 3.9% of circuit court seats vacant, and 4.9% of district court seats vacant. By the first day of 2017, the figures had risen to 9.5% and 12.8% respectively. The 114th Congress confirmed 28.6% of Obama's circuit and district judge nominees; every other Congress in that research time frame (1977–2018, 95th to 115th Congress) had a confirmation rate of between 53% and 98%.{{cite web |title=Judicial Nomination Statistics and Analysis: U.S. District and Circuit Courts, 1977–2018 |url=https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R45622.pdf |website=[[Congressional Research Service]] |access-date=June 13, 2019 |archive-date=July 16, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716133048/https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R45622.pdf |url-status=live }}}}<ref>{{cite web |last1=Savage |first1=David |title=This Congress filled the fewest judgeships since 1952. That leaves a big opening for Trump |url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-judges-trump-senate-20161231-story.html |date=December 31, 2016 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=June 13, 2019 |archive-date=June 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190622091328/https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-judges-trump-senate-20161231-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In a 2019 interview, McConnell credited himself for the large number of judicial vacancies created in the last two years of Obama's presidency.<ref name="dictatetrial" />

On February 13, 2016, Supreme Court justice [[Antonin Scalia]] died.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/05/us/politics/three-more-judges-said-to-be-vetted-for-supreme-court.html |title=Three More Judges Said to be Vetted for Supreme Court |author=Hirschfeld Davis, Julie |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=March 4, 2016 |access-date=October 3, 2018 |archive-date=August 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180824165143/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/05/us/politics/three-more-judges-said-to-be-vetted-for-supreme-court.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Shortly thereafter, McConnell issued a statement indicating that the Senate would not consider any Supreme Court nominee Obama put forth.<ref name="Homans-2019" /><ref name="politico160213">{{Cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2016/02/mitch-mcconnell-antonin-scalia-supreme-court-nomination-219248|title=McConnell throws down the gauntlet: No Scalia replacement under Obama|first1=Burgess|last1=Everett|first2=Glenn|last2=Trush|date=February 13, 2016|newspaper=[[Politico]]|access-date=September 18, 2020|archive-date=September 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919045954/https://www.politico.com/story/2016/02/mitch-mcconnell-antonin-scalia-supreme-court-nomination-219248|url-status=live}}</ref> "The American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court justice. Therefore, this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new president", McConnell said.<ref name="politico160213"/> On March 16, 2016, Obama nominated [[Merrick Garland]], a Judge of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, to the Supreme Court.<ref>{{Cite news|first1=Michael D.|last1=Shear|first2=Gardiner|last2=Harris|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/17/us/politics/obama-supreme-court-nominee.html|title=Obama Chooses Merrick Garland for Supreme Court|date=March 16, 2016|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=October 3, 2018|archive-date=March 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316121409/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/17/us/politics/obama-supreme-court-nominee.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Under McConnell's direction, Senate Republicans refused to take any action on the nomination.<ref>{{cite news |first=Nina |last=Totenberg |author-link=Nina Totenberg |url=https://www.npr.org/2016/09/06/492857860/173-days-and-counting-gop-unlikely-to-end-blockade-on-garland-nomination-soon |title=170-Plus Days And Counting: GOP Unlikely To End Supreme Court Blockade Soon |publisher=[[NPR]]|work=[[All Things Considered]] |date=September 6, 2016 |access-date=October 3, 2018 |archive-date=September 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180930134026/https://www.npr.org/2016/09/06/492857860/173-days-and-counting-gop-unlikely-to-end-blockade-on-garland-nomination-soon |url-status=live }}</ref> Garland's nomination expired on January 3, 2017, with the end of the [[114th Congress]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Jess |last=Bravin |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/president-obamas-supreme-court-nomination-of-merrick-garland-expires-1483463952 |title=President Obama's Supreme Court Nomination of Merrick Garland Expires |newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|date=January 3, 2017 |access-date=October 3, 2018 |archive-date=March 10, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170310012617/https://www.wsj.com/articles/president-obamas-supreme-court-nomination-of-merrick-garland-expires-1483463952 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In an August 2016 speech in Kentucky, McConnell said, "one of my proudest moments was when I looked Barack Obama in the eye and I said, 'Mr. President, you will not fill the Supreme Court vacancy.'"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://crooksandliars.com/2016/08/mitch-mcconnell-mitch-mcconnell-proud|title=Mitch McConnell: Proud Moment When I Told Obama 'You Will Not Fill This Supreme Court Vacancy'|author=Scarce, Ed|work=Crooks and Liars|access-date=August 2, 2018|archive-date=July 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180712030142/https://crooksandliars.com/2016/08/mitch-mcconnell-mitch-mcconnell-proud|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/34561-2|title=Tea Party-Aligned Kentucky Gov May End 95-Year Democratic Reign|author=Roarty, Alex|date=August 8, 2016|publisher=rollcall.com|access-date=August 21, 2016|archive-date=August 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822072110/http://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/34561-2|url-status=live}}</ref> In April 2018, McConnell said the decision not to act on Garland's nomination was "the most consequential decision I've made in my entire public career".<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://kentuckytoday.com/stories/mcconnell-on-elections-the-wind-is-going-to-be-in-our-face,12674|title=McConnell on midterm elections: 'The wind is going to be in our face'|author=Alford, Roger|work=Kentucky Today|date=April 3, 2018|access-date=April 5, 2018|language=en|archive-date=April 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180404231010/http://kentuckytoday.com/stories/mcconnell-on-elections-the-wind-is-going-to-be-in-our-face,12674|url-status=live}}</ref> Political scientists and legal scholars called McConnell's refusal to hold Senate hearings on Garland "unprecedented",<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781538105757/The-Trump-Presidency-Initial-Appraisals|title=The Trump Presidency: Outsider in the Oval Office|last1=Schier|first1=Steven E.|last2=Eberly|first2=Todd E.|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|year=2017|page=71|access-date=October 11, 2018|archive-date=October 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011214805/https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781538105757/The-Trump-Presidency-Initial-Appraisals|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://columbialawreview.org/content/hardball-vs-beanball-identifying-fundamentally-antidemocratic-tactics/|title=Constitutional Hardball vs. Beanball: Identifying Fundamentally Antidemocratic Tactics|last=Handelsman Shugerman|first=Jed|website=Columbia Law Review|language=en|access-date=May 30, 2019|archive-date=May 30, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190530123602/https://columbialawreview.org/content/hardball-vs-beanball-identifying-fundamentally-antidemocratic-tactics/|url-status=live}}</ref> a "culmination of [his] confrontational style",<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.palgrave.com/gp/book/9783319410326#aboutBook|title=The Obama Presidency and the Politics of Change|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|year=2017|editor-last=Ashbee|editor-first=Edward|pages=55, 62|doi=10.1007/978-3-319-41033-3|isbn=978-3-319-41032-6|editor-last2=Dumbrell|editor-first2=John|access-date=October 6, 2018|archive-date=November 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130202254/https://www.palgrave.com/gp/book/9783319410326#aboutBook|url-status=live}}</ref> a "blatant abuse of constitutional norms",<ref name="Mounk-2018">{{cite book|url=http://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674976825|title=The People vs. Democracy|last=Mounk|first=Yascha|publisher=Harvard University Press|date=2018|isbn=9780674976825 |access-date=March 14, 2019|archive-date=November 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181127131526/http://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674976825|url-status=live}}</ref> and a "classic example of constitutional hardball".<ref name="Fishkin-2018" />

====Under Trump====
{{See also|Donald Trump Supreme Court candidates|Donald Trump judicial appointment controversies}}

In January 2017, President Trump nominated Neil Gorsuch to fill the Supreme Court vacancy left after Scalia's death.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-picks-colo-appeals-court-judge-neil-gorsuch-for-supreme-court/2017/01/31/2b08a226-e55e-11e6-a547-5fb9411d332c_story.html|title=Trump picks Colo. appeals court judge Neil Gorsuch for Supreme Court|last=Barnes|first=Robert|date=January 31, 2017|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=February 1, 2017|archive-date=February 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170201013448/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-picks-colo-appeals-court-judge-neil-gorsuch-for-supreme-court/2017/01/31/2b08a226-e55e-11e6-a547-5fb9411d332c_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Gorsuch's nomination was confirmed on April 7, 2017, after McConnell eliminated the filibuster on Supreme Court nominees.<ref>{{cite news |first1=Adam|last1=Liptak |author-link=Adam Liptak |first2=Matt|last2=Flegenheimer |title=Neil Gorsuch Confirmed by Senate as Supreme Court Justice |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/07/us/politics/neil-gorsuch-supreme-court.html |access-date=April 15, 2017 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=April 8, 2017 |page=A1 |archive-date=April 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190429054521/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/07/us/politics/neil-gorsuch-supreme-court.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

On July 18, 2018, with [[Andy Oldham]]'s Senate confirmation, Senate Republicans broke a record for largest number of [[appeals court]] judiciary [[List of federal judges appointed by Donald Trump|confirmations during a president's first two years]]; Oldham became the 23rd appeals court judge confirmed in Trump's term.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Platoff |first1=Emma |title=Senate confirms a top Abbott adviser, Andrew Oldham, to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2018/07/18/andrew-oldham-governor-greg-abbott-adviser-confirmed-5th-circuit/ |website=The Texas Tribune |date=July 18, 2018 |access-date=July 18, 2018 |archive-date=July 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718234602/https://www.texastribune.org/2018/07/18/andrew-oldham-governor-greg-abbott-adviser-confirmed-5th-circuit/ |url-status=live }}</ref> McConnell said he considers the judiciary to be the item of Trump's first two years with the longest-lasting impact on the country. The record for the number of [[circuit court]] judges confirmed during a president's first year was broken in 2017, while the previous two-year record of 22 confirmations took place under President [[George H. W. Bush]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Carney |first1=Jordain |title=Senate GOP poised to break record on Trump's court picks |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/397287-senate-gop-poised-to-break-record-on-trumps-court-picks/ |website=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|date=July 16, 2018 |access-date=July 18, 2018 |archive-date=July 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717143906/http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/397287-senate-gop-poised-to-break-record-on-trumps-court-picks |url-status=live }}</ref> By March 2020, McConnell had contacted an unknown number of judges, encouraging them to retire before the 2020 election.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/2020/03/16/mitch-mcconnell-urging-judges-retire-ahead-2020-election/5060303002/|work=Louisville Courier Journal|title=Mitch McConnell is quietly urging federal judges to retire ahead of 2020 election|author=Bailey, Phillip M.|date=March 16, 2020|access-date=September 18, 2020|archive-date=November 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201120195810/https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/2020/03/16/mitch-mcconnell-urging-judges-retire-ahead-2020-election/5060303002/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/16/us/politics/mcconnell-judges-republicans.html|work=[[The New York Times]]|title=McConnell Has a Request for Veteran Federal Judges: Please Quit|author=Hulse, Carl|date=March 16, 2020|access-date=September 18, 2020|archive-date=October 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201018083419/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/16/us/politics/mcconnell-judges-republicans.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage|url-status=live}}</ref> He confirmed [[List of federal judges appointed by Donald Trump|260]] federal judges during Trump's four-year term, [[Judicial appointment history for United States federal courts|shifting the federal judiciary]] to the right.

[[File:Mitch McConnell meets with Brett Kavanaugh and Mike Pence.jpg|thumb|McConnell (left) with then-Judge [[Brett Kavanaugh]] (middle), the nominee to replace retiring Justice [[Anthony Kennedy]], and vice president [[Mike Pence]], 2018]]
In July 2018, Trump nominated Brett Kavanaugh to replace the retiring [[Anthony Kennedy]] as an associate justice of the Supreme Court. McConnell accused Democrats of [[Donald Trump judicial appointment controversies|creating an "extreme" distortion]] of Kavanaugh's record during his hearings.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/396687-mcconnell-accuses-dems-of-trying-to-bork-kavanaugh/|title=McConnell accuses Dems of trying to 'bork' Kavanaugh|date=July 12, 2018|first=Jordain|last=Carney|newspaper=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|access-date=November 7, 2018|archive-date=November 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181107145130/https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/396687-mcconnell-accuses-dems-of-trying-to-bork-kavanaugh|url-status=live}}</ref> In September 2018, [[Christine Blasey Ford]] publicly alleged that Kavanaugh had sexually assaulted her in 1982. After it was reported that Democrats were investigating a second allegation against Kavanaugh, McConnell said, "I want to make it perfectly clear. ... Judge Kavanaugh will be voted on here on the Senate floor."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/408144-mcconnell-promises-senate-vote-on-kavanaugh/|title=McConnell promises Senate vote on Kavanaugh|author=Carney, Jordain|date=September 24, 2018|newspaper=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|access-date=September 18, 2020|archive-date=August 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813203259/https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/408144-mcconnell-promises-senate-vote-on-kavanaugh|url-status=live}}</ref> Kavanaugh was confirmed on October 6.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/06/politics/kavanaugh-final-confirmation-vote/index.html|title=Brett Kavanaugh confirmed to Supreme Court|first=Clare|last=Foran|date=October 7, 2018|work=[[CNN]]|access-date=November 7, 2018|archive-date=November 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106191954/https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/06/politics/kavanaugh-final-confirmation-vote/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/06/us/politics/brett-kavanaugh-supreme-court.html|title=Kavanaugh Is Sworn In After Close Confirmation Vote in Senate|first=Sheryl Gay|last=Stolberg|date=October 6, 2018|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=September 18, 2020|archive-date=September 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200913140833/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/06/us/politics/brett-kavanaugh-supreme-court.html|url-status=live}}</ref> McConnell said the confirmation process was a low point for the Senate, but also downplayed reports of dysfunction in the Senate; he said claims that the Senate was "somehow broken over this [were] simply inaccurate".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/sunday-talk-shows/410289-mcconnell-simply-inaccurate-that-senate-is-broken-after-kavanaugh/|title=McConnell: 'Simply inaccurate' that Senate is broken after Kavanaugh fight|first=Brett|last=Samuels|date=October 7, 2018|newspaper=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|access-date=November 7, 2018|archive-date=November 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181107185229/https://thehill.com/homenews/sunday-talk-shows/410289-mcconnell-simply-inaccurate-that-senate-is-broken-after-kavanaugh|url-status=live}}</ref>

In October 2018, McConnell said 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. He argued that because in 2016 the Senate was controlled by a party other than the president's, the 2016 precedent was not applicable in 2020, when Republicans controlled both the presidency and Senate.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/mcconnell-signals-he-would-push-to-fill-a-supreme-court-vacancy-in-2020-despite-2016-example/2018/10/08/75ee6fce-cb2a-11e8-a360-85875bac0b1f_story.html|title=McConnell signals he would push to fill a Supreme Court vacancy in 2020 despite 2016 example|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|author=Viebeck, Elise|language=en|date=October 9, 2018|access-date=October 12, 2018|archive-date=October 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181012094421/https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/mcconnell-signals-he-would-push-to-fill-a-supreme-court-vacancy-in-2020-despite-2016-example/2018/10/08/75ee6fce-cb2a-11e8-a360-85875bac0b1f_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In September 2020, after [[Ruth Bader Ginsburg]] died, he announced the Senate would vote on Trump's nominated replacement.<ref>{{Cite web|work=[[CNN]]|first1=Clare|last1=Foran|first2=Manu|last2=Raju|first3=Ted|last3=Barrett|title=McConnell vows Trump's nominee to replace Ginsburg will get Senate vote, setting up historic fight|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/18/politics/congress-fight-rgb-seat/index.html|date=September 19, 2020|access-date=September 19, 2020|archive-date=September 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919012142/https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/18/politics/congress-fight-rgb-seat/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On October 23, McConnell set in place the Senate debate on the confirmation of [[Amy Coney Barrett]] to fill Ginsburg's seat. Barrett was confirmed on October 26.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mcconnell-senate-cloture-vote-amy-coney-barrett-nomination-watch-live-stream-today-2020-10-23|title=Senate takes up Barrett nomination|work=[[CBS News]]|access-date=October 23, 2020|archive-date=October 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023200630/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mcconnell-senate-cloture-vote-amy-coney-barrett-nomination-watch-live-stream-today-2020-10-23/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Government shutdowns===
The federal government shut down on October 1–17, 2013, after Congress failed to enact legislation to fund it. McConnell later vowed Republicans would not force the U.S. to default on its debt or shut down the government in 2014, when stopgap funding measures were set to expire. He also said he would not allow other Republicans to obstruct the budget-making process.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2013/10/mitch-mcconnell-government-shutdown-098943|title=McConnell: No more shutdowns|author=Palmer, Anna|date=October 28, 2013|work=[[Politico]]|access-date=September 18, 2020|archive-date=October 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201012190403/https://www.politico.com/story/2013/10/mitch-mcconnell-government-shutdown-098943|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Bash|first=Dana|date=August 28, 2014|title=McConnell: 'Remember me? I am the guy that gets us out of shutdowns' {{!}} CNN Politics|url=https://www.cnn.com/2014/08/28/politics/mitch-mcconnell-shutdowns/index.html|access-date=January 6, 2022|website=[[CNN]]|language=en|archive-date=January 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220106065340/https://www.cnn.com/2014/08/28/politics/mitch-mcconnell-shutdowns/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In July 2018, McConnell said funding for the [[Mexico–United States border]] wall would likely have to wait until the midterms had concluded. Trump tweeted two days later that he was willing to allow a government shutdown to get funding.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/30/politics/mitch-mcconnell-shutdown-president-trump/index.html|title=McConnell said wall funding would 'probably' have to wait until after midterms. Trump threatened a shutdown two days later|first=Jamie|last=Ehrlich|date=July 30, 2018|publisher=[[CNN]]|access-date=January 9, 2019|archive-date=December 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181206033408/https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/30/politics/mitch-mcconnell-shutdown-president-trump/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Several spending bills were approved that August; the approvals were seen as a victory for McConnell in his attempts to prevent another government shutdown.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/403360-senate-passes-massive-spending-bill-on-defense-health-education/|title=Senate approves sweeping bill on defense, domestic spending|author=Carney, Jordain|date=October 23, 2018|newspaper=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|access-date=September 18, 2020|archive-date=August 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805110643/https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/403360-senate-passes-massive-spending-bill-on-defense-health-education|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Shutdown of 2018–2019====
From December 22, 2018, until January 25, 2019, the [[United States federal government shutdown of 2018–2019|federal government shut down]] when Congress refused to give in to Trump's demand for $5.7&nbsp;billion in federal funds for a [[Trump border wall|U.S.–Mexico border wall]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/422600-mcconnell-knocks-dems-for-rejecting-trumps-reasonable-request-on-border/|title=McConnell knocks Dems for rejecting Trump's 'reasonable request' on border|author=Carney, Jordain|date=December 22, 2018|newspaper=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|access-date=September 18, 2020|archive-date=August 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804015536/https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/422600-mcconnell-knocks-dems-for-rejecting-trumps-reasonable-request-on-border|url-status=live}}</ref> In December 2018, the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican-controlled]] [[U.S. Senate|Senate]] unanimously passed an appropriations bill without wall funding, and the Republican-controlled [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] and Trump appeared likely to approve the bill. After Trump faced heavy criticism from some [[Alternative media (U.S. political right)|right-wing media outlets]] and pundits for appearing to back down on his campaign promise to [[Build the Wall|"build the wall"]], he said he would not sign any appropriations bill that did not fund the wall.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/423590-mcconnell-suggests-shutdown-could-last-for-weeks/|title=McConnell suggests shutdown could last for weeks|author=Carney, Jordain|date=January 2, 2019|newspaper=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|access-date=September 18, 2020|archive-date=September 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922153149/https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/423590-mcconnell-suggests-shutdown-could-last-for-weeks|url-status=live}}</ref>

During this shutdown, McConnell blocked the Senate from voting on appropriations legislation and said it was not his place to mediate between the Senate and Trump.<ref name="Bresnahan-2019">{{Cite web|url=https://politi.co/2F8BR6M|title=McConnell keeps his head down as government shutdown drags on|last1=Bresnahan|first1=John|last2=Everett|first2=Burgess|website=[[Politico]]|language=en|date=January 4, 2019|access-date=May 23, 2019|archive-date=November 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201120195811/https://www.politico.com/story/2019/01/04/mcconnell-government-shutdown-1080027|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Nilsen-2019">{{Cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/1/10/18176932/senate-democrats-mitch-mcconnell-government-shutdown|title=Senate Democrats pushed a vote to reopen the government. Mitch McConnell shot them down.|last=Nilsen|first=Ella|date=January 10, 2019|website=[[Vox (website)|Vox]]|access-date=May 23, 2019|archive-date=May 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190523202409/https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/1/10/18176932/senate-democrats-mitch-mcconnell-government-shutdown|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Itkowitz-2019">{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/01/11/mitch-mcconnell-could-end-shutdown-hes-sitting-this-one-out/|title=Mitch McConnell could end the shutdown. But he's sitting this one out.|last=Itkowitz|first=Colby|date=January 11, 2019|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=September 18, 2020|archive-date=September 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200905084251/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/01/11/mitch-mcconnell-could-end-shutdown-hes-sitting-this-one-out/|url-status=live}}</ref> Privately, McConnell had advised Trump against initiating the shutdown.<ref name="Homans-2019" /> Democrats criticized McConnell for not putting appropriations legislation up for a vote, noting that the Republican-controlled Senate had unanimously passed an appropriations bill without wall funding and that the Senate could override Trump's veto.<ref name="Bresnahan-2019" /><ref name="Nilsen-2019" /><ref name="Itkowitz-2019" />

By January 23, McConnell had blocked four Senate bills to reopen the government and a bill funding the Homeland Security Department through February 8. He called for Democrats to support a Trump administration-backed measure that included $5.7&nbsp;billion in wall funding, together with a temporary extension of protections for [[DACA]] recipients, a Democratic priority.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/426668-mcconnell-blocks-bill-to-reopen-most-of-government/|title=McConnell blocks bill to reopen most of government|author=Carney, Jordain|date=January 23, 2019|newspaper=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|access-date=September 18, 2020|archive-date=January 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190124044721/https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/426668-mcconnell-blocks-bill-to-reopen-most-of-government|url-status=live}}</ref> Privately, other Republican senators pressured McConnell to stop blocking appropriations legislation.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/this-is-your-fault-gop-senators-clash-over-shutdown-inside-private-luncheon/2019/01/24/cde0ca22-2045-11e9-8b59-0a28f2191131_story.html|title='This is your fault': GOP senators clash over shutdown inside private luncheon|last1=Sullivan|first1=Sean|last2=Kane|first2=Paul|date=January 25, 2019|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=September 18, 2020|archive-date=September 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923011602/https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/this-is-your-fault-gop-senators-clash-over-shutdown-inside-private-luncheon/2019/01/24/cde0ca22-2045-11e9-8b59-0a28f2191131_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/03/us/politics/mcconnell-senate-republicans-shutdown.html|title=McConnell Faces Pressure From Republicans to Stop Avoiding Shutdown Fight|last1=Stolberg|first1=Sheryl Gay|date=January 3, 2019|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=May 23, 2019|last2=Fandos|first2=Nicholas|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=January 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190115075719/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/03/us/politics/mcconnell-senate-republicans-shutdown.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The shutdown ended on January 25, when Trump signed a three-week funding measure reopening the government until February 15 without funds for a border wall.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gambino |first1=Lauren |last2=Walters |first2=Joanna |title=Trump signs bill to end shutdown and temporarily reopen government |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jan/25/shutdown-latest-news-trump-reopens-government-deal-democrats |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=January 25, 2019 |date=January 25, 2019 |archive-date=January 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190125203948/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jan/25/shutdown-latest-news-trump-reopens-government-deal-democrats |url-status=live }}</ref> This was the longest government shutdown in American history.<ref name="Homans-2019" /><ref>{{Cite news|last1=Zaveri|first1=Mihir|last2=Gates|first2=Guilbert|last3=Zraick|first3=Karen|date=January 9, 2019|title=The Government Shutdown Was the Longest Ever. Here's the History.|language=en-US|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/01/09/us/politics/longest-government-shutdown.html|access-date=January 6, 2022|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=January 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190109234923/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/01/09/us/politics/longest-government-shutdown.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

===COVID-19 response===
In response to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|COVID-19 pandemic]], McConnell initially opposed the [[Families First Coronavirus Response Act]], calling it a Democratic "ideological wish list".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/487235-mcconnell-house-coronavirus-bill-an-ideological-wish-list/|title=McConnell: House coronavirus bill an 'ideological wish list'|author=Carney, Jordain|work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|date=March 12, 2020|access-date=March 14, 2020|archive-date=March 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200314203349/https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/487235-mcconnell-house-coronavirus-bill-an-ideological-wish-list|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=The twisted politics of Washington's coronavirus response|work=NBC News|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/twisted-politics-washington-s-coronavirus-response-n1156856|author=Allen, Jonathan|date=March 12, 2020|access-date=September 18, 2020|archive-date=April 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200402114359/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/twisted-politics-washington-s-coronavirus-response-n1156856|url-status=live}}</ref> He reversed his position when Trump endorsed the proposed package.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/mcconnell-holds-presser-on-round-3-of-coronavirus-legislation|title=McConnell tells GOP to pass House coronavirus bill: 'Gag and vote for it anyway'|author=Schultz, Marisa|work=[[Fox News]]|date=March 17, 2020|access-date=September 18, 2020|archive-date=August 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804170935/https://www.foxnews.com/politics/mcconnell-holds-presser-on-round-3-of-coronavirus-legislation|url-status=live}}</ref> The bill passed in the Senate by a vote of 90–8.

McConnell also directed Senate Republicans in negotiations for two other 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,<ref>Wire, Sarah D. (March 25, 2020) "[https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2020-03-25/vote-senate-on-2-trillion-economic-stimulus-package-coronavirus Senate passes $2-trillion economic stimulus package] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201006074713/https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2020-03-25/vote-senate-on-2-trillion-economic-stimulus-package-coronavirus/ |date=October 6, 2020 }}". ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''.</ref> amounting to 10% of total U.S. [[gross domestic product]].<ref>Kambhampati, Sandhya (March 26, 2020). "[https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2020-03-26/coronavirus-stimulus-package-versus-recovery-act The coronavirus stimulus package versus the Recovery Act] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808105228/https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2020-03-26/coronavirus-stimulus-package-versus-recovery-act |date=August 8, 2020 }}". ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''.</ref> It passed both houses of Congress with bipartisan support.<ref>{{Cite web|title=All of the COVID-19 stimulus bills, visualized|url=https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/2021/03/11/covid-19-stimulus-how-much-do-coronavirus-relief-bills-cost/4602942001/|access-date=January 6, 2022|website=usatoday.com|date=March 11, 2021|language=en|archive-date=December 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211230151440/https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/2021/03/11/covid-19-stimulus-how-much-do-coronavirus-relief-bills-cost/4602942001/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Speaking on the [[Hugh Hewitt]] radio show on April 22, 2020, McConnell suggested that states should be able to declare bankruptcy instead of receiving additional COVID-19 aid funds—funds he implied would be used to save insolvent state pension funds instead of for COVID-19 relief. His comments were sharply criticized by various state and local officials. States cannot declare bankruptcy.<ref>{{cite news|title=McConnell Says He Favors Letting States Declare Bankruptcy|first1=Steven T.|last1=Dennis|first2=William|last2=Selway|work=[[Bloomberg News|Bloomberg]]|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-04-22/mcconnell-says-he-favors-allowing-states-to-declare-bankruptcy|date=April 22, 2020|access-date=September 18, 2020|archive-date=September 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929040047/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-04-22/mcconnell-says-he-favors-allowing-states-to-declare-bankruptcy|url-status=live}}</ref>

After the CARES Act passed, McConnell waited several months before advancing any additional COVID-19 relief measures in the Senate, saying in May, "I don't think we have yet felt the urgency of acting immediately" and that Congress should "[hit] pause" to evaluate how the allocated funds were working before approving more.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/15/us/coronavirus-republicans-blowback-aid.html|title=With Go-Slow Approach, Republicans Risk Political Blowback on Pandemic Aid|author=Hulse, Carl|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=May 15, 2020|access-date=September 18, 2020|archive-date=September 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918091015/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/15/us/coronavirus-republicans-blowback-aid.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He was absent from negotiations between congressional Democrats and White House officials for an additional aid package.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/05/us/politics/mcconnell-stimulus-talks-coronavirus.html|title=In Stimulus Talks, McConnell Is Outside the Room and in a Tight Spot|author=Hulse, Carl|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=August 5, 2020|access-date=August 13, 2020|archive-date=August 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812124023/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/05/us/politics/mcconnell-stimulus-talks-coronavirus.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/511554-mcconnell-time-to-restart-coronavirus-talks-amid-stalemate-on-deal/|title=McConnell: Time to restart coronavirus talks|author=Carney, Jordain|work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|date=August 11, 2020|access-date=September 18, 2020|archive-date=September 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922221616/https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/511554-mcconnell-time-to-restart-coronavirus-talks-amid-stalemate-on-deal|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/510801-mcconnell-goes-hands-off-on-bill/|author=Bolton, Alexander|work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|title=McConnell goes hands-off on coronavirus relief bill|date=August 6, 2020|access-date=September 18, 2020|archive-date=September 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200915150848/https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/510801-mcconnell-goes-hands-off-on-bill|url-status=live}}</ref>

On September 10, 2020, a pared-down COVID-19 relief bill crafted by McConnell failed to pass the Senate because of a Democratic filibuster.<ref>{{cite news|title=Senate Democrats block $300 billion coronavirus stimulus package, leaving little hope for relief before November|work=[[USA Today]]|author=Hayes, Christal|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/09/10/coronavirus-senate-set-vote-bill-democrats-vow-block/5762727002/|date=September 10, 2020|access-date=September 18, 2020|archive-date=September 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200916194934/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/09/10/coronavirus-senate-set-vote-bill-democrats-vow-block/5762727002/|url-status=live}}</ref> Democrats called the bill "completely inadequate" given the scope of the COVID-19 crisis<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/10/coronavirus-stimulus-update-senate-relief-bill-fails.html|work=[[MSNBC]]|title=Senate Republicans fail to advance coronavirus stimulus bill as stalemate drags on|author=Pramuk, Jacob|date=September 10, 2020|access-date=September 18, 2020|archive-date=September 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200917212237/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/10/coronavirus-stimulus-update-senate-relief-bill-fails.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and a partisan maneuver to help Republican senators up for reelection.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/10/politics/mitch-mcconnell-senate-majority/index.html|publisher=[[CNN]]|date=September 10, 2020|title=How McConnell is maneuvering to keep the Senate in GOP hands&nbsp;— and navigating Trump|author=Raju, Manu|access-date=September 18, 2020|archive-date=September 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918020216/https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/10/politics/mitch-mcconnell-senate-majority/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> McConnell called the bill a choice between "do[ing] something" and "do[ing] nothing",<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/09/politics/schumer-coronavirus-gop-stimulus-bill-cnntv/index.html|title=Schumer says Democrats won't fold to GOP's 'emaciated' stimulus bill|author=Stracqualursi, Veronica|work=[[CNN]]|date=September 9, 2020|access-date=September 18, 2020|archive-date=September 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200916225535/https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/09/politics/schumer-coronavirus-gop-stimulus-bill-cnntv/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and said he was holding the procedural vote to get lawmakers on the record about their willingness to compromise on COVID-19 legislation.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/coronavirus-relief-bill-senate-republican-vote-fails/|title=Senate fails to advance slimmed-down GOP coronavirus relief bill|date=September 10, 2020|work=[[CBS News]]|author=Segers, Grace|access-date=September 18, 2020|archive-date=September 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200911085224/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/coronavirus-relief-bill-senate-republican-vote-fails/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Approval ratings===
As the leader of the Senate Republicans, McConnell has received much of the criticism and disapproval that Republicans receive from Democratic voters, receiving near uniform disapproval from left-of-center voters. Furthermore, as a result of his unpopularity with Trump and the more populist base, McConnell has had historically low approval for a senator by the electorate as a whole: a 2012 poll and a 2016 poll each found that McConnell had the lowest home-state approval rating of any sitting senator.<ref name=Smart>{{cite web|magazine=Smart Politics|author=Ostermeier, Dr. Eric|title=Which States Give Their US Senators the Lowest Marks?|url=http://editions.lib.umn.edu/smartpolitics/2015/11/29/which-states-give-their-us-senators-the-lowest-marks/|date=November 29, 2015|accessdate=November 17, 2016|archive-date=November 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161118041551/http://editions.lib.umn.edu/smartpolitics/2015/11/29/which-states-give-their-us-senators-the-lowest-marks/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|author=Cirilli, Kevin|date=December 12, 2012|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2012/12/poll-the-most-unpopular-senator-084927|title=Poll: The most unpopular senator|magazine=[[Politico]]|access-date=February 12, 2017|archive-date=February 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225061939/https://www.politico.com/story/2012/12/poll-the-most-unpopular-senator-084927|url-status=live}}</ref> With a 49% disapproval rate in 2017, McConnell had the highest disapproval rating of any senator.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://members-of-congress.insidegov.com/stories/14197/least-popular-senators#25-Sen-Mitch-McConnell-R-Ky|title=The Least Popular U.S. Senators|publisher=InsideGov (Graphiq)|accessdate=June 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170706181742/https://graphiq-stories.graphiq.com/stories/14197/least-popular-senators#25-Sen-Mitch-McConnell-R-Ky|archive-date=July 6, 2017|website=insidegov.com}}</ref>
[[File:Senator Mitch McConnell in Kentucky on Oct. 30, 2024.jpg|thumb|Senator Mitch McConnell in Kentucky on October 30, 2024]]
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. The worst rating since that time was in the fourth quarter of 2018, when he had a 38% positive rating and a 47% negative rating among Kentuckians.<ref name=Morning /> At that time he was briefly not the least popular senator, surpassed by [[Claire McCaskill]] and [[Jeff Flake]].<ref>{{cite news|title=America's Most and Least Popular Senators: McConnell loses spot as least popular senator|date=January 10, 2019|author=Yokley, Eli|publisher=Morning Consult|url=https://morningconsult.com/2019/01/10/americas-most-and-least-popular-senators-q4-2018/|accessdate=September 2, 2019|website=morningconsult.com|archive-date=April 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200414082922/https://morningconsult.com/2019/01/10/americas-most-and-least-popular-senators-q4-2018/|url-status=live}}</ref> But as of the second quarter of 2019, McConnell's ratings were 36% positive and 50% negative. He netted −56 among Democrats, +29 among Republicans, and −24 among Independents.<ref name=Morning>{{cite web|url=https://morningconsult.com/senator-rankings-q2-19-2/|title=Morning Consult's Senator Approval Rankings: Q2 2019, Senator Lookup|publisher=Morning Consult|year=2019|accessdate=September 2, 2019|website=morningconsult.com|archive-date=October 14, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191014003848/https://morningconsult.com/senator-rankings-q2-19-2/|url-status=live}}</ref> An average of polls by the Economist/YouGov, Politico/Morning Consult, and Harvard-Harris from the end of July through August 2019 (7/31–8/27), was 23% favorable and 48% unfavorable (−25.0 spread).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/mitch_mcconnell_favorableunfavorable-6672.html|title=Mitch McConnell: Favorable/Unfavorable|publisher=Real Clear Politics (RealClearHoldings, LLC.)|accessdate=September 2, 2019|website=realclearpolitics.com|archive-date=May 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220507194649/https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/mitch_mcconnell_favorableunfavorable-6672.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2020, according to Morning Consult, [[Susan Collins]] edged out McConnell as the least popular senator with a 52% unfavorable rating from Maine voters compared to 50% for McConnell.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/01/16/susan-collins-approval-rating/4495142002/|title=Susan Collins surpasses Mitch McConnell as the most unpopular senator in a new poll|author=Behrmann, Savannah|date=January 17, 2020|accessdate=January 17, 2020|publisher=[[USA Today]] (Gannett)|archive-date=May 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220507194648/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/01/16/susan-collins-approval-rating/4495142002/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Committee assignments===
McConnell's committee assignments for the 118th Congress are as follows:<ref name="118thCongressAssignments">{{Cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/general/committee_assignments/assignments.htm|title=Committee Assignments of the 118th Congress|access-date=March 17, 2023|website=United States Senate|archive-date=May 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170512200450/https://www.senate.gov/general/committee_assignments/assignments.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry]]
** [[United States Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Commodities, Risk Management, and Trade|Subcommittee on Commodities, Risk Management, and Trade]]
** [[United States Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Climate, Forestry, and Natural Resources|Subcommittee on Conservation, Climate, Forestry, and Natural Resources]]
** [[United States Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Food and Nutrition, Specialty Crops, Organics, and Research|Subcommittee on Food and Nutrition, Specialty Crops, Organics, and Research]]
* [[United States Senate Committee on Appropriations|Committee on Appropriations]]
** [[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies|Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies]]
** [[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense|Subcommittee on Defense]]
** [[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development|Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development]]
** [[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies|Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies]]
** [[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies|Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans' Affairs, and Related Agencies]]
** [[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs|Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs]]
* [[United States Senate Committee on Rules and Administration|Committee on Rules and Administration]] (Chair)

==Political positions==
{{Main|Political positions of Mitch McConnell}}
{{conservatism US|politicians}}

McConnell has taken [[Conservatism in the United States|conservative]] stances for the past several decades. During his Senate tenure, he led opposition to stricter campaign finance laws,<ref>{{Cite news|last=Homans|first=Charles|date=January 22, 2019|title=Mitch McConnell Got Everything He Wanted. But at What Cost?|language=en-US|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/22/magazine/mcconnell-senate-trump.html|access-date=January 6, 2022|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=August 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809193955/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/22/magazine/mcconnell-senate-trump.html|url-status=live}}</ref> culminating in the [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]] [[Citizens United v. FEC|ruling]] that partially overturned the [[Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act]] (McCain-Feingold) in 2010. He led opposition to [[Obamacare]],<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.academia.edu/35311502|author= Gautreaux, R|title= Framing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act:A Content Analysis of Democratic and Republican Twitter Feeds|date= 2016|access-date= March 26, 2020|archive-date= November 20, 2020|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201120195817/https://www.academia.edu/35311502/Framing_the_Patient_Protection_and_Affordable_Care_Act_A_Content_Analysis_of_Democratic_and_Republican_Twitter_Feeds|url-status= live}}</ref> first through efforts to delay or prevent the law's passage, and later to repeal or replace it, including via the [[American Healthcare Reform Act]]. McConnell has opposed stronger regulations, gun control measures, and efforts to [[mitigate climate change]]. He has criticized proposed legislation by House Democrats such as the [[Green New Deal]] and [[Medicare for All]],<ref name = "GrimReaper">{{cite web |last1=Re |first1=Gregg |title=McConnell vows to be 'grim reaper' of socialist Dem proposals |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/mcconnell-vows-to-be-grim-reaper-of-socialist-dem-proposals |website=[[Fox News]] |access-date=June 17, 2019 |date=April 22, 2019 |archive-date=June 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190617072901/https://www.foxnews.com/politics/mcconnell-vows-to-be-grim-reaper-of-socialist-dem-proposals |url-status=live }}</ref> and was criticized by [[Nancy Pelosi]] for withholding votes on measures passed by the Democratic-controlled House during his time as Senate majority leader, including the [[For the People Act of 2019]], the [[Equality Act (United States)|Equality Act]], and the [[Paycheck Fairness Act]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Creitz |first1=Charles |title=Mitch McConnell: 'For the first time in my memory, I agree with Nancy Pelosi' |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/mitch-mcconnell-for-the-first-time-in-my-memory-i-agree-with-nancy-pelosi |website=[[Fox News]] |access-date=June 17, 2019 |date=June 13, 2019 |archive-date=June 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190617025349/https://www.foxnews.com/politics/mitch-mcconnell-for-the-first-time-in-my-memory-i-agree-with-nancy-pelosi |url-status=live }}</ref> McConnell has supported stronger border security, free trade agreements, and reductions in taxes. As Senate majority leader, he led the passing of the [[Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017]] and the [[Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act]] in 2018. 

His foreign policy views have included support of sanctions on [[Cuba]], [[Iran]], and [[Russia]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=115&session=1&vote=00175|title=U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 115th Congress – 1st Session|website=senate.gov|date=July 27, 2017|access-date=June 27, 2019|archive-date=January 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180113175200/https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=115&session=1&vote=00175|url-status=live}}</ref> support of [[Ukraine]] during [[Russian invasion of Ukraine|its invasion by Russia]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Everett |first1=Burgess |last2=Haberkorn |first2=Jennifer |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2024/04/24/mitch-mcconnell-israel-ukraine-aid-00153990 |title=How McConnell and Schumer beat hardline conservatives on Ukraine |work=[[Politico]] |date=April 24, 2024 |access-date=April 26, 2024 |archive-date=April 25, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240425212319/https://www.politico.com/news/2024/04/24/mitch-mcconnell-israel-ukraine-aid-00153990 |url-status=live }}</ref> opposition to the [[Iran nuclear deal]], and support of [[Israel]] in its [[Gaza war]].<ref>{{cite news |title=McConnell pushes back on Biden conditions on aid to Israel |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/4655882-mcconnell-pushes-back-on-biden-conditions-on-aid-to-israel/ |work=The Hill |date=May 10, 2024 |archive-date=January 27, 2025 |access-date=June 16, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250127100708/https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/4655882-mcconnell-pushes-back-on-biden-conditions-on-aid-to-israel/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He voted for the [[Iraq Resolution]], which authorized [[2003 invasion of Iraq|military action against Iraq]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/onpolitics/transcripts/senaterollcall_iraq101002.htm|title=Senate Roll Call: Iraq Resolution|date=October 11, 2002|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=August 26, 2014|archive-date=September 4, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140904094853/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/onpolitics/transcripts/senaterollcall_iraq101002.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> and publicly supported the [[Iraq War troop surge of 2007]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.wkyt.com/wymt/home/headlines/6320197.html|title=McConnell: Troop Surge In Iraq Showing Early Signs Of Success|date=March 5, 2007|access-date=August 26, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826115628/http://www.wkyt.com/wymt/home/headlines/6320197.html|archive-date=August 26, 2014|url-status=dead|publisher=WYMT|agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> In June 2025, he supported Israel in the [[Iran–Israel War]] and called for [[Foreign interventions by the United States|military intervention by the United States]] against Iran.<ref>{{cite news |title=Trump's Iran dilemma exposes bitter split among Maga faithful |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1wp72224jzo |work=BBC |date=June 18, 2025 |archive-date=August 17, 2025 |access-date=June 18, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250817103457/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1wp72224jzo |url-status=live }}</ref>

Earlier in his political career, during the 1960s and 1970s, McConnell held moderate stances, including support of [[abortions]], support of [[Trade union|unions]], and support of the [[civil rights movement]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Sen. Mitch McConnell's Political Life, Examined, In 'The Cynic'|date=November 20, 2014|url=https://www.npr.org/2014/11/20/365484670/sen-mitch-mcconnells-political-life-examined-in-the-cynic|access-date=October 9, 2020|archive-date=June 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200618062323/https://www.npr.org/2014/11/20/365484670/sen-mitch-mcconnells-political-life-examined-in-the-cynic|url-status=live}}</ref> Following the [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]]'s ruling in [[Obergefell v. Hodges]], McConnell expressed his opposition to [[Same-sex marriage in the United States|same-sex marriage]] stating “I’ve always felt that marriage is between one man and one woman and the Supreme Court has held otherwise. That’s the law of the land.”<ref>{{Cite news |last=Everett |first=Burgess |date=July 1, 2015 |title=McConnell: GOP out of legislative options to fight gay marriage |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/mitch-mcconnell-gay-marriage-ruling-congress-legislation-119630 |access-date=May 22, 2024 |work=POLITICO |archive-date=May 22, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240522182305/https://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/mitch-mcconnell-gay-marriage-ruling-congress-legislation-119630 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Electoral history==
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;"
|-
! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" rowspan=2 | Year
! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" rowspan=2 | Office
! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" rowspan=2 | Type
! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" colspan=2 rowspan=2 | Party
! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" rowspan=2 | Main opponent
! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" colspan=2 rowspan=2 | Party
! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" colspan=4 | Votes for McConnell
! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" rowspan=2 | Result
! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" colspan=2 rowspan=2 | [[Swing (politics)|Swing]]
|-
! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | Total
! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | %
! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | {{abbr|2=Position|P}}.
! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | {{tooltip|2=Change in percentage value since previous election|±%}}
|-
! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" rowspan=2 | '''[[1984 United States Senate election in Kentucky|1984]]'''
| rowspan=13 | [[List of United States senators from Kentucky|Senator]]
| Primary
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
| rowspan=2 | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| C. Roger Harker
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 39,465
| 79.22%
| 1st
| N/A
| {{yes2|Won}}
| style="background-color:{{party color|Independent politician}};" |
| N/A
|-
| General
| [[Walter Dee Huddleston]] ([[Incumbent|I]])
| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 644,990
| 49.90%
| 1st
| +13.03%
| {{yes2|Won}}
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
| '''Gain'''
|-
! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" rowspan=2 | '''[[1990 United States Senate election in Kentucky|1990]]'''
| Primary
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
| rowspan=2 | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| Tommy Klein
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 64,063
| 88.52%
| 1st
| +9.30%
| {{yes2|Won}}
| style="background-color:{{party color|Independent politician}};" |
| N/A
|-
| General
| [[Harvey I. Sloane]]
| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 478,034
| 52.19%
| 1st
| +2.28%
| {{yes2|Won}}
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
| '''Hold'''
|-
! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" rowspan=2 | '''[[1996 United States Senate election in Kentucky|1996]]'''
| Primary
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
| rowspan=2 | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| Tommy Klein
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 88,620
| 88.59%
| 1st
| +0.07%
| {{yes2|Won}}
| style="background-color:{{party color|Independent politician}};" |
| N/A
|-
| General
| [[Steve Beshear]]
| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 724,794
| 55.45%
| 1st
| +3.27%
| {{yes2|Won}}
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
| '''Hold'''
|-
! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | '''[[2002 United States Senate election in Kentucky|2002]]'''
| General
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| [[Lois Combs Weinberg]]
| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 731,679
| 64.68%
| 1st
| +9.22%
| {{yes2|Won}}
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
| '''Hold'''
|-
! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" rowspan=2 | '''[[2008 United States Senate election in Kentucky|2008]]'''
| Primary
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
| rowspan=2 | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| Daniel Essek
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 168,127
| 86.09%
| 1st
| −2.50%
| {{yes2|Won}}
| style="background-color:{{party color|Independent politician}};" |
| N/A
|-
| General
| [[Bruce Lunsford]]
| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 953,816
| 52.97%
| 1st
| −11.7%
| {{yes2|Won}}
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
| '''Hold'''
|-
! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" rowspan=2 | '''[[2014 United States Senate election in Kentucky|2014]]'''
| Primary
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
| rowspan=2 | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| [[Matt Bevin]]
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 213,753
| 60.19%
| 1st
| −25.9%
| {{yes2|Won}}
| style="background-color:{{party color|Independent politician}};" |
| N/A
|-
| General
| [[Alison Lundergan Grimes]]
| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 806,787
| 56.19%
| 1st
| +3.22%
| {{yes2|Won}}
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
| '''Hold'''
|-
! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" rowspan=2 | '''[[2020 United States Senate election in Kentucky|2020]]'''
| Primary
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
| rowspan=2 | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| [[C. Wesley Morgan]]
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 342,660
| 82.80%
| 1st
| +22.61
| {{yes2|Won}}
| style="background-color:{{party color|Independent politician}};" |
| N/A
|-
| General
| [[Amy McGrath]]
| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 1,233,315
| 57.76%
| 1st
| +1.57%
| {{yes2|Won}}
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
| '''Hold'''
|-
! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" colspan=15 |
|}

===1984===
{{Main|1984 United States Senate election in Kentucky}}

In [[1984 United States Senate election in Kentucky|1984]], McConnell ran for the [[U.S. Senate]] against two-term [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] incumbent [[Walter Dee Huddleston]]. The election race was not decided until the last returns came in, when McConnell won by 3,437 votes out of more than 1.2 million votes cast, just over 0.4%.<ref>{{cite news |title=Dee upset by McConnell in close race |first=Mark R. |last=Chellgren |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XLRDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1340,2543281 |newspaper=Williamson Daily News |date=November 7, 1984 |access-date=February 13, 2012 |archive-date=November 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201120195858/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XLRDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1340%2C2543281 |url-status=live }}</ref> McConnell was the only Republican Senate challenger to win that year, despite [[Ronald Reagan]]'s landslide victory in the [[United States presidential election|presidential election]].<ref>{{Cite web|orig-date=1985|title=Democrats Have Net Gain of Two Senate Seats.|url=https://library.cqpress.com/cqalmanac/login.php?requested=%2Fcqalmanac%2Fdocument.php%3Fid%3Dcqal84-856-25733-1150757|access-date=January 6, 2022|website=Congressional Quarterly|archive-date=August 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200820195341/http://library.cqpress.com/cqalmanac/login.php?requested=%2Fcqalmanac%2Fdocument.php%3Fid%3Dcqal84-856-25733-1150757|url-status=live}}</ref>

McConnell was the first Republican to win a statewide election in Kentucky since 1968, and benefited from the popularity of President [[Ronald Reagan]], up for re-election, who was supported by 60% of Kentucky voters in the same year.<ref name="Costa">{{Cite book|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/americangovernme0000unse|title=American Government 12/13|last=Costa|first=Robert|publisher=McGraw-Hill Higher Education|year=2013|isbn=978-0-07-8051135|editor-last=Stinebrickner|editor-first=Bruce|edition=42nd|location=New York, NY|pages=[https://archive.org/details/americangovernme0000unse/page/100 100–103]|chapter=Master of the Senate: Mitchell McConnell gets the job done|url=https://archive.org/details/americangovernme0000unse/page/100}}</ref>

===1990===
{{Main|1990 United States Senate election in Kentucky}}

In [[1990 United States Senate election in Kentucky|1990]], McConnell faced former [[Louisville]] Mayor [[Harvey I. Sloane]], winning by 4.4%.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1990election.pdf|title=Statistics of the congressional election of November 6, 1990|access-date=January 15, 2020|archive-date=July 21, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721043024/http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1990election.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

===1996===
{{Main|1996 United States Senate election in Kentucky}}

In [[1996 United States Senate election in Kentucky|1996]], he defeated [[Steve Beshear]] by 12.6%,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1996/96Stat.htm#12|title=96 PRESIDENTIAL and CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION STATISTICS|website=clerk.house.gov|access-date=June 21, 2019|archive-date=June 6, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606053554/http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1996/96Stat.htm#12|url-status=live}}</ref> even as [[Bill Clinton]] [[1996 United States presidential election in Kentucky|narrowly carried]] the state. McConnell's campaign ran television ads warning voters to not "Get BeSheared" and included images of [[sheep shearing|sheep being sheared]].<ref name=corny>{{cite news |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/mitch-mcconnell-political-ads_n_3581420 |title=Mitch McConnell Likes The Corny Wordplay With His Political Opponents' Last Names |author=Linkins, Jason |work=[[HuffPost]]|date=July 11, 2013 |access-date=August 17, 2014 |archive-date=August 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804062234/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/mitch-mcconnell-political-ads_n_3581420 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===2002===
{{Main|2002 United States Senate election in Kentucky}}

In [[2002 United States Senate election in Kentucky|2002]], he was unopposed in the Republican primary. He then defeated [[Lois Combs Weinberg]] by 29.4%.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/2002/2002Stat.htm#17|title=2002 ELECTION STATISTICS|website=clerk.house.gov|access-date=June 21, 2019|archive-date=January 5, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070105011809/http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/2002/2002Stat.htm#17|url-status=live}}</ref>

===2008===
{{Main|2008 United States Senate election in Kentucky}}

In [[2008 United States Senate election in Kentucky|2008]], McConnell faced his closest contest since 1990. He defeated [[Bruce Lunsford]] by 6%.<ref name="almanac"/>

===2014===
{{Main|2014 United States Senate election in Kentucky}}

In [[2014 United States Senate election in Kentucky|2014]], McConnell faced Louisville businessman [[Matt Bevin]] in the Republican primary.<ref>{{cite news|last=Killough|first=Ashley|title=Conservative challenger takes on top Senate Republican|url=https://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/07/24/conservative-challenger-takes-on-top-senate-republican/|publisher=[[CNN]]|date=July 24, 2013|access-date=January 27, 2020|archive-date=January 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127103455/https://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/07/24/conservative-challenger-takes-on-top-senate-republican/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The 60.2% won by McConnell was the lowest voter support for a Kentucky U.S. senator in a primary since 1938.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://editions.lib.umn.edu/smartpolitics/2014/05/20/mcconnell-records-weakest-kent/|title=McConnell Records Weakest Kentucky US Senate Incumbent Primary Victory in 75+ Years|work=Smart Politics|first=Eric|last=Ostermeier|date=May 20, 2014|access-date=January 27, 2020|archive-date=January 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127103735/https://editions.lib.umn.edu/smartpolitics/2014/05/20/mcconnell-records-weakest-kent/|url-status=live}}</ref> He faced Democratic Secretary of State [[Alison Lundergan Grimes]] in the general election, and defeated Grimes, 56.2–40.7%.<ref>{{cite news | title=Mitch McConnell Wins Re-Election, A.P. Says, as Republicans Make Election Day Push | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/05/us/politics/midterm-elections.html | access-date=November 4, 2014 | work=[[The New York Times]] | date=November 4, 2014 | archive-date=November 5, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141105070126/http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/05/us/politics/midterm-elections.html | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://elect.ky.gov/SiteCollectionDocuments/Election%20Results/2010-2019/2014/2014%20General%20Election%20Results.pdf | title=2014 General Election Results | website=elect.ky.gov | publisher=Kentucky State Board of Elections | access-date=January 27, 2020 | archive-date=January 27, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127103450/https://elect.ky.gov/SiteCollectionDocuments/Election%2520Results/2010-2019/2014/2014%2520General%2520Election%2520Results.pdf | url-status=live }}</ref>

===2020===
{{Main|2020 United States Senate election in Kentucky}}

In the November 2020 general election, McConnell faced Democratic nominee [[Amy McGrath]], a former [[United States Marine Corps|Marine]] fighter pilot; and [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian]] nominee Brad Barron, a businessman and farmer.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/06/30/politics/kentucky-primary-amy-mcgrath/index.html|title=Amy McGrath wins Kentucky Senate Democratic primary, CNN projects|work=[[CNN]]|first1=Gregory|last1=Krieg|first2=Kate|last2=Sullivan|date=June 30, 2020|access-date=September 18, 2020|archive-date=October 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001164825/https://edition.cnn.com/2020/06/30/politics/kentucky-primary-amy-mcgrath/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Debate set in McConnell-McGrath Senate race in Kentucky |url=https://www.wkyt.com/2020/10/02/stage-set-for-televised-mcconnell-mcgrath-debate-on-october-12/ |access-date=October 14, 2020 |work=wkyt.com |date=October 2, 2020 |archive-date=October 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017162549/https://www.wkyt.com/2020/10/02/stage-set-for-televised-mcconnell-mcgrath-debate-on-october-12/ |url-status=live }}</ref> During the campaign, McConnell and McGrath agreed to one hour-long, [[Social distancing|socially distanced]] debate on October 12.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/elections/kentucky/2020/10/02/amy-mcgrath-vs-mitch-mcconnell-debate-after-weeks-sparring/3596396001/|publisher=Courier Journal|title=Amy McGrath vs. Mitch McConnell debate is on|date=October 2, 2020|access-date=October 3, 2020|archive-date=November 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201120195842/https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/elections/kentucky/2020/10/02/amy-mcgrath-vs-mitch-mcconnell-debate-after-weeks-sparring/3596396001/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://local12.com/news/local/kentucky-senator-mitch-mcconnell-to-debate-challenger-amy-mcgrath|title=Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell to debate challenger Amy McGrath|author=BRUCE SCHREINER|agency=Associated Press|date=October 11, 2020|website=WKRC|access-date=October 13, 2020|archive-date=November 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201120195856/https://local12.com/news/local/kentucky-senator-mitch-mcconnell-to-debate-challenger-amy-mcgrath|url-status=live}}</ref> McConnell was elected to his seventh term on November&nbsp;3 when he defeated McGrath by nearly 20 percentage points.<ref>{{Cite news|title=U.S. Senate Election Results|language=en-US|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=November 3, 2020 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/11/03/us/elections/results-senate.html|access-date=November 4, 2020|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=November 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201104001920/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/11/03/us/elections/results-senate.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Personal life==
[[File:Mitch McConnell and Elaine Chao (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|McConnell and his wife, [[Elaine Chao]], January 2019]]

=== Family ===
McConnell is a [[Southern Baptist]], baptized at age 8.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Autry |first1=Lisa |title=Religious Leaders Press McConnell on Social Issues |url=https://www.wkyufm.org/post/religious-leaders-press-mcconnell-social-issues |access-date=December 16, 2020 |work=WKU Public Radio Service of Western Kentucky University |date=August 14, 2014 |archive-date=March 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303214214/https://www.wkyufm.org/post/religious-leaders-press-mcconnell-social-issues |url-status=live }}</ref> He was married to his first wife, Sherrill Redmon, from 1968 to 1980 and had three daughters, Porter, Eleanor (Elly), and Claire.<ref>[https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/04/20/how-mitch-mcconnell-became-trumps-enabler-in-chief How Mitch McConnell became Trump's enabler-in-chief] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919035353/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/04/20/how-mitch-mcconnell-became-trumps-enabler-in-chief |date=September 19, 2020 }}, ''[[The New Yorker]]'', Jane Mayer, April 12, 2020. Retrieved November 6, 2021.</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Mitch McConnell Fast Facts|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2014/11/13/politics/mitch-mcconnell-fast-facts|work=[[CNN]]|access-date=February 9, 2017|date=February 5, 2017|archive-date=April 27, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160427230100/http://edit/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>[https://www.britannica.com/facts/Mitch-McConnell : Facts & Related Content] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107155045/https://www.britannica.com/facts/Mitch-McConnell |date=November 7, 2021 }}, ''[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]'', 2021. Retrieved November 6, 2021.</ref> Porter McConnell is the campaign director for [[Take on Wall Street]], a left-wing advocacy coalition.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Walsh |first=Kathleen |date=August 17, 2020 |title=How Daughters of High-Profile Republicans Became Progressive Icons |url=https://www.instyle.com/politics-social-issues/choose-2020/daughters-of-republicans-progressive-icons |access-date=February 8, 2023 |website=InStyle |language=en |archive-date=February 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208023119/https://www.instyle.com/politics-social-issues/choose-2020/daughters-of-republicans-progressive-icons |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=March 1, 2022 |title=Unimpressed with post office banking trial, backers eye new initiative |url=https://www.rollcall.com/2022/03/01/unimpressed-with-usps-banking-trial-backers-eye-new-initiative/ |access-date=February 8, 2023 |website=Roll Call |language=en |archive-date=February 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240228223739/https://rollcall.com/2022/03/01/unimpressed-with-usps-banking-trial-backers-eye-new-initiative/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Following her divorce from McConnell, Redmon became a feminist scholar at [[Smith College]] and director of the [[Sophia Smith Collection]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Horowitz|first=Jason|title=Girding for a Fight, McConnell Enlists His Wife|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/14/us/politics/girding-for-a-fight-mcconnell-enlists-his-wife.html|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=February 9, 2017|date=May 13, 2014|archive-date=February 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180225235117/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/14/us/politics/girding-for-a-fight-mcconnell-enlists-his-wife.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Sherrill Redmon Retires |url=https://www.smith.edu/library/libs/ssc/news/redmon.html|publisher=Smith College|access-date=February 9, 2017|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211075630/https://www.smith.edu/library/libs/ssc/news/redmon.html|archive-date=February 11, 2017}}</ref>

McConnell's second wife, whom he married in 1993, is [[Elaine Chao]], [[Secretary of Labor]] under [[Presidency of George W. Bush|President George W. Bush]] and [[United States Secretary of Transportation|Secretary of Transportation]] under [[First presidency of Donald Trump|President Donald Trump]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2017/01/31/politics/elaine-chao-transportation-confirmation/|date=January 31, 2017|title=Chao confirmed as transportation secretary|work=[[CNN]]|first=Ted|last=Barrett|access-date=August 2, 2018|archive-date=March 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170314201510/http://edition.cnn.com/2017/01/31/politics/elaine-chao-transportation-confirmation/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In May 2019, McConnell's brother-in-law [[Gordon Hartogensis]], who is married to Chao's sister Grace, was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as director of the [[Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation]] (PBGC), a part of the Labor Department.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mangan |first1=Dan |last2=Breuniger |first2=Kevin |date=May 15, 2018 |title=Trump nominates brother-in-law of Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell and Transportation Secretary Chao to run pension agency |website=[[CNBC]] |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/05/15/trump-nominates-mitch-mcconnell-in-law-gordon-hartogensis-for-job.html |url-status=live |access-date=June 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190921023942/https://www.cnbc.com/2018/05/15/trump-nominates-mitch-mcconnell-in-law-gordon-hartogensis-for-job.html |archive-date=September 21, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Kullgren |first=Ian |date=December 17, 2018 |title=Want to run an agency? It helps to know Mitch McConnell |website=[[Politico]]|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/12/17/mitch-mcconnell-know-run-agency-1033119 |url-status=live |access-date=June 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190527060748/https://www.politico.com/story/2018/12/17/mitch-mcconnell-know-run-agency-1033119 |archive-date=May 27, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=May 3, 2019 |title=Senate Confirms Gordon Hartogensis as Director of PBGC |website=Chief Investment Officer |url=https://www.ai-cio.com/news/senate-confirms-gordon-hartogensis-director-pbgc/ |url-status=live |access-date=June 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190707131519/https://www.ai-cio.com/news/senate-confirms-gordon-hartogensis-director-pbgc/ |archive-date=July 7, 2019}}</ref> McConnell voted to confirm.<ref>{{cite web |date=April 30, 2019 |title=Roll Call Vote 116th Congress – 1st Session |url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=116&session=1&vote=00083 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190710041403/https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=116&session=1&vote=00083 |archive-date=July 10, 2019 |access-date=June 12, 2019}}</ref>

=== Health ===
McConnell's upper left leg was paralyzed during his childhood by [[polio]].<ref name="memoir" />

In February 2003, McConnell underwent a [[triple bypass surgery|triple heart bypass surgery]] at the [[National Naval Medical Center]] in [[Bethesda, Maryland]], in relation to blocked arteries.<ref>{{cite news |date=February 3, 2003 |title=McConnell undergoes heart surgery |work=[[CNN]] |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/02/03/mcconnell.heart/index.html |url-status=live |access-date=September 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101001950/https://edition.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/02/03/mcconnell.heart/index.html |archive-date=November 1, 2020}}</ref>

==== Falls ====
In August 2019, McConnell fractured his shoulder in a fall at his Louisville home.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 9, 2023 |title=US Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell treated for concussion |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-64898451 |access-date=March 9, 2023 |website=[[BBC News]] |language=en-AU |archive-date=March 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230309060157/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-64898451 |url-status=live }}</ref>  In March 2023, he was hospitalized for five days after a fall; he was treated for a [[concussion]] and a minor rib fracture,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goodman |first=Sylvia |date=August 17, 2023 |title=Sen. Mitch McConnell's health issues spotlight Kentucky's succession process |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/08/16/1194115265/sen-mitch-mcconnells-health-issues-spotlights-kentuckys-succession-process |access-date=August 30, 2023 |website=NPR |archive-date=August 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230830233343/https://www.npr.org/2023/08/16/1194115265/sen-mitch-mcconnells-health-issues-spotlights-kentuckys-succession-process |url-status=live }}</ref> and did not return to the Senate for almost six weeks.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Keck |first=Matthew |date=July 27, 2023 |title=Mitch McConnell returns to Senate floor day after freezing during news conference |url=https://www.wlky.com/article/mitch-mcconnell-health-condition-update-freeze/44665233 |access-date=August 31, 2023 |website=WLKY |language=en |archive-date=August 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230831000712/https://www.wlky.com/article/mitch-mcconnell-health-condition-update-freeze/44665233 |url-status=live }}</ref>  In July 2023, he fell while disembarking from a plane at [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport]].<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Haake |first1=Garrett |last2=Kapur |first2=Sahil |date=July 26, 2023 |title=McConnell fell recently at Washington, D.C.-area airport prior to Wednesday's freeze-up |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/mcconnell-fell-recently-dc-airport-prior-wednesdays-freeze-rcna96568 |access-date=August 31, 2023 |website=NBC News |language=en |archive-date=August 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230831000228/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/mcconnell-fell-recently-dc-airport-prior-wednesdays-freeze-rcna96568 |url-status=live }}</ref> On December 10, 2024, McConnell fell during a Senate Republican Conference policy luncheon, spraining his wrist and cutting his face.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Barrett |first1=Ted |last2=Foran |first2=Clare |last3=Raju |first3=Manu |last4=Rimmer |first4=Morgan |title=Mitch McConnell sprains wrist and cuts his face after fall in the Capitol |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/10/politics/mitch-mcconnell-fall/index.html |access-date=December 11, 2024 |agency=CNN |archive-date=February 11, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250211235412/https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/10/politics/mitch-mcconnell-fall/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> On October 16, 2025, he fell at the [[US Capitol Building]] while being [[doorstepped]] by an amateur reporter, whose cameraman recorded the incident.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 16, 2025 |title=Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell, 83, fell to the ground in a Capitol hallway Thursday afternoon as he made his way to Senate votes. |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/sen-mitch-mcconnell-falls-capitol-hallway/story?id=126586619 |access-date=October 18, 2025 |website=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

==== Freezing episodes ====
On July 26, 2023, McConnell prompted worldwide media reports when he froze, unspeaking, for around 20 seconds while addressing a press conference.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell freezes mid-sentence and stares vacantly for around 20 seconds during press conference |url=https://news.sky.com/story/senate-republican-leader-mitch-mcconnell-freezes-mid-sentence-and-stares-vacantly-for-around-20-seconds-during-press-conference-12928264 |access-date=July 28, 2023 |date=July 27, 2023 |website=[[Sky News]] |first=Samuel |last=Osborne |language=en-UK |archive-date=July 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230727111031/https://news.sky.com/story/senate-republican-leader-mitch-mcconnell-freezes-mid-sentence-and-stares-vacantly-for-around-20-seconds-during-press-conference-12928264 |url-status=live }}</ref> He was escorted away by aides, but later returned and said he was "fine".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mitch McConnell says he's 'fine' after freezing during news conference|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2023/07/26/politics/mitch-mcconnell-freezes-press-conference/index.html|access-date=July 26, 2023|date=July 26, 2023|website=[[CNN]]|first1=Manu|last1=Raju|first2=Morgan|last2=Rimmer|language=en-AU|archive-date=July 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230726185938/https://edition.cnn.com/2023/07/26/politics/mitch-mcconnell-freezes-press-conference/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Two days after the incident, his spokespersons said that McConnell would continue in his leadership role; he is the institution's longest-serving party leader.<ref>{{cite web|first1=Sahil|last1=Kapur|first2=Rebecca|last2=Shabad|date=July 29, 2023|title=Mitch McConnell vows to serve his full term as Republican leader|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/mitch-mcconnell-vows-serve-full-term-republican-leader-rcna96864|work=NBC News|access-date=August 4, 2023|archive-date=August 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230803203835/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/mitch-mcconnell-vows-serve-full-term-republican-leader-rcna96864|url-status=live}}</ref> On August 30, 2023, he again froze during a press conference in [[Covington, Kentucky]], and was eventually led away by staff.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sen. Mitch McConnell appears to freeze again at a Kentucky event|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/sen-mitch-mcconnell-appears-freeze-kentucky-event-rcna102583|work=NBC News|first=Frank|last=Thorp V.|date=August 30, 2023|access-date=August 30, 2023|archive-date=August 30, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230830172427/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/sen-mitch-mcconnell-appears-freeze-kentucky-event-rcna102583|url-status=live}}</ref> A day later, McConnell released a letter from the attending physician of Congress that said he was "medically clear" to continue his schedule as planned;<ref name="2023medical letter">{{cite tweet |user=burgessev |first=Burgess |last=Everett |number=1697315090582671825 |title=Capitol physician provides note on McConnell medically clearing him to continue his duties after yesterdays episode. Physician spoke to McConnell's neurology team and McConnell, per this note| archiveurl  = https://archive.today/20240131162328/https://twitter.com/burgessev/status/1697315090582671825
 | archivedate = January 31, 2024 }}</ref> the letter said that the physician had talked to McConnell and "conferred with his neurology team", but did not indicate that he had physically examined McConnell.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/05/politics/mitch-mcconnell-health-latest/index.html|title=Capitol Hill doctor: No evidence McConnell has seizure disorder or experienced stroke when freezing before cameras|work=CNN|first1=Manu|last1=Raju|first2=Kristin|last2=Wilson|first3=Annie|last3=Grayer|date=September 5, 2023|access-date=October 1, 2023|archive-date=September 30, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230930003903/https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/05/politics/mitch-mcconnell-health-latest/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Other ===
In 1997, McConnell founded the [[James Madison Center for Free Speech]], a [[legal defense|legal-defense]] organization based in Washington, D.C.<ref>{{cite book |last=Dyche |first=John David |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7usMAQAAMAAJ |title=Republican Leader: A Political Biography of Senator Mitch McConnell |publisher=[[Intercollegiate Studies Institute]] |year=2009 |isbn=978-1-935191-59-9 |page=124 |access-date=January 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805232152/https://books.google.com/books?id=7usMAQAAMAAJ |archive-date=August 5, 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Southworth |first=Ann |url=https://archive.org/details/lawyersofrightpr0000sout |title=Lawyers of the right: professionalizing the conservative coalition |publisher=[[Chicago]]: [[University of Chicago Press]] |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-226-76836-6 |page=[https://archive.org/details/lawyersofrightpr0000sout/page/30 30] |url-access=registration}}</ref> He was inducted into the [[Sons of the American Revolution]] on March 1, 2013.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Long Rifleman Louisville-Thruston Chapter |url=http://www.louthrustonsar.org/March%202013%20Newsletter.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004214246/http://www.louthrustonsar.org/March%202013%20Newsletter.pdf |archive-date=October 4, 2013 |access-date=November 19, 2013 |volume=4 |issue=2}}</ref> He is on the Board of Selectors of [[Jefferson Awards for Public Service]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Board of Selectors |url=https://www.multiplyinggood.org/who-we-are/team/board-of-selectors |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101124055949/http://www.jeffersonawards.org/board |archive-date=November 24, 2010 |access-date=November 19, 2013 |publisher=JeffersonAwards.org}}</ref>

In 2018, the [[OpenSecrets]] website ranked McConnell one of the wealthiest members of the U.S. Senate, with a net worth of more than $25 million.<ref name="net-worth">{{cite web |title=Mitch McConnell – Net Worth – Personal Finances |url=https://www.opensecrets.org/personal-finances/net-worth?cid=N00003389 |access-date=October 28, 2021 |website=OpenSecrets.org |archive-date=April 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416164926/https://www.opensecrets.org/personal-finances/net-worth?cid=N00003389 |url-status=live }}</ref> His personal wealth grew in 2008, when he 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.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bresnahan |first1=John |date=June 12, 2009 |title=Members' fortunes see steep declines |work=[[Politico]] |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2009/06/members-fortunes-see-steep-declines-023693 |url-status=live |access-date=November 1, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926133404/http://www.politico.com/story/2009/06/members-fortunes-see-steep-declines-023693 |archive-date=September 26, 2015}}</ref>

==In popular culture==
McConnell's detractors have called him by a number of nicknames, including "Moscow Mitch",<ref name = "MoscowMitch">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/30/us/politics/moscow-mitch-mcconnell.html|title='Moscow Mitch' Tag Enrages McConnell and Squeezes G.O.P. on Election Security|author=Hulse, Carl|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=July 30, 2019|access-date=September 18, 2020|archive-date=September 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200921145645/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/30/us/politics/moscow-mitch-mcconnell.html|url-status=live}}</ref> "Cocaine Mitch",<ref name = "MoscowMitch" /> the "Grim Reaper",<ref name = "GrimReaper" /> "[[Darth Vader]]",<ref name = "DarkSide">{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2019/05/19/mitch-mcconnell-senate-left-1331577|title=Mitch McConnell embraces his dark side|work=[[Politico]]|author=Everett, Burgess|date=May 19, 2019|access-date=September 18, 2020|archive-date=September 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200901210035/https://www.politico.com/story/2019/05/19/mitch-mcconnell-senate-left-1331577|url-status=live}}</ref> "Rich Mitch",<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/us-election-2020/trump-lincoln-project-mitch-mcconnell-kentucky-ad-a9537206.html|title='Rich Mitch':Republican Group That Infuriated Trump Takes Aim at Senate Leader in New Ad|work=[[The Independent]]|author=Naughtie, Andrew|date=May 28, 2020|access-date=September 18, 2020|archive-date=November 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201110071322/https://www.independent.co.uk/us-election-2020/trump-lincoln-project-mitch-mcconnell-kentucky-ad-a9537206.html|url-status=live}}</ref> "Nuclear Mitch",<ref name = "DarkSide" /> "Midnight Mitch",<ref>{{Cite web|last=Tobin|first=Ben|title=McConnell called 'Midnight Mitch' for controversial proposed impeachment trial rules|url=https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/mitch-mcconnell/2020/01/21/trump-impeachment-mcconnell-called-midnight-mitch-over-trial-rules/4528790002/|date=January 21, 2020|access-date=August 21, 2020|website=The Courier-Journal|language=en-US|archive-date=November 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201120195905/https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/mitch-mcconnell/2020/01/21/trump-impeachment-mcconnell-called-midnight-mitch-over-trial-rules/4528790002/|url-status=live}}</ref> and "Old Crow".<ref>{{cite news|title=Mitch McConnell responds to Trump's 'Old Crow' insult: 'It's quite an honor'|work=[[CNN]]|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/13/politics/mitch-mcconnell-old-crow/index.html|date=July 13, 2021|access-date=August 31, 2021|archive-date=August 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210831153605/https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/13/politics/mitch-mcconnell-old-crow/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> McConnell embraces several of them, but he has objected strenuously to "Moscow Mitch".{{efn|Reasons cited for McConnell's opposition to the nickname include "a longstanding resistance to federal [[#Election security|control over state elections]], newly enacted security improvements that were shown to have worked in the 2018 voting and his suspicion that Democrats are trying to gain partisan advantage with a host of proposals".}}<ref name = "MoscowMitch"/>

[[Jon Stewart]] repeatedly mocked McConnell on ''[[The Daily Show]]'' for resembling a [[turtle]] or [[tortoise]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/video/2015/05/13/mitch-mcconnell-responds-to-daily-show-turtle-impersonation.html|title=Mitch McConnell responds to 'Daily Show' turtle impersonation|work=[[CNBC]]|date=May 13, 2015|access-date=March 8, 2020|archive-date=August 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807084303/https://www.cnbc.com/video/2015/05/13/mitch-mcconnell-responds-to-daily-show-turtle-impersonation.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thewrap.com/daily-show-president-obama-mitch-mcconnell-tortoise-republicans/|title=Jon Stewart Takes 'Slow-Talking Tortoise-Man' Mitch McConnell to Task – Again (Video)|date=November 7, 2014|work=The Wrap|author=Maglio, Tony|access-date=September 18, 2020|archive-date=August 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804015953/https://www.thewrap.com/daily-show-president-obama-mitch-mcconnell-tortoise-republicans/|url-status=live}}</ref> McConnell has been portrayed by [[Beck Bennett]] in sketches on ''[[Saturday Night Live]]''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Itzkoff |first1=Dave |title='S.N.L.' Imagines the Impeachment Trial That Could Have Been |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/02/arts/television/snl-jj-watt-impeachment-luke-combs.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=February 2, 2020 |access-date=February 16, 2020 |archive-date=February 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200216020621/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/02/arts/television/snl-jj-watt-impeachment-luke-combs.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2017, McConnell was portrayed satirically in ''[[South Park]]''{{'}}s [[South Park (season 21)|season 21]] episode "[[Doubling Down (South Park)|Doubling Down]]".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/danidiplacido/2017/11/09/south-park-review-doubling-down-is-the-most-insightful-episode-in-years/#4e9caa8c7684|work=[[Forbes]]|title='South Park' Review: 'Doubling Down' Is the Most Insightful Episode in Years|author=Di Placidio, Dani|date=November 9, 2017|access-date=September 18, 2020|archive-date=August 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804003839/https://www.forbes.com/sites/danidiplacido/2017/11/09/south-park-review-doubling-down-is-the-most-insightful-episode-in-years/#4e9caa8c7684|url-status=live}}</ref>

During the 2014 election campaign, McConnell was lampooned for posting campaign [[B-roll]] footage online for use by allied [[Political action committee|PACs]]. Various Internet posters satirically interspersed the B-roll with footage from [[sitcom]]s and movies and with popular music. The practice of posting B-roll footage online for use by PACs or of lampooning the B-roll was termed "McConnelling".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://rollcall.com/2019/06/06/what-is-mcconnelling-how-campaigns-skirt-coordination-laws-to-help-pacs-make-ads/|work=Roll Call|title=What is McConnelling? How campaigns skirt coordination laws to help PACs make ads|first1=Nathan L.|last1=Gonzales|first2=Thomas|last2=McKinless|date=June 6, 2019|access-date=September 18, 2020|archive-date=November 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108022651/https://www.rollcall.com/2019/06/06/what-is-mcconnelling-how-campaigns-skirt-coordination-laws-to-help-pacs-make-ads/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2014/03/14/how-mcconnelling-came-to-be/|author=Fuller, Jaime|date=March 14, 2014|title=How 'McConnelling' came to be the hottest thing on the political web|access-date=September 18, 2020|archive-date=February 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210213323/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2014/03/14/how-mcconnelling-came-to-be/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://time.com/28036/mcconnell-embraces-mcconnelling/|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|title=McConnell Embraces #McConnelling|author=Newton-Small, Jay|date=March 17, 2014|access-date=September 18, 2020|archive-date=October 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023033906/https://time.com/28036/mcconnell-embraces-mcconnelling/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2015, 2019, and 2023, ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' listed McConnell as one of the 100 most influential people in the world.<ref name="Boehner"/><ref name="Time"/><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://time.com/collection/100-most-influential-people-2023/6269859/mitch-mcconnell-2023/|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|title=Mitch McConnell|date=April 13, 2023|access-date=June 24, 2024|archive-date=May 1, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250501163748/https://time.com/collection/100-most-influential-people-2023/6269859/mitch-mcconnell-2023/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==See also==

* [[2010s in United States political history]]
* [[Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==Further reading==
* {{Cite book |last=Dyche |first=John David |year=2009 |title=Republican Leader: A Political Biography of Senator Mitch McConnell |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7usMAQAAMAAJ |location=Wilmington, DE |publisher=Intercollegiate Studies Institute |isbn=978-1935191599 |oclc=298181753}}
* {{cite magazine |last=Green |first=Joshua |date=January 5, 2011 |title=Recommended Reading on Mitch McConnell |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/01/recommended-reading-on-mitch-mcconnell/68915/ |magazine=[[The Atlantic]] |access-date=February 6, 2019}}
* {{cite book |last=MacGillis |first=Alec |date=2014 |title=[[The Cynic: The Political Education of Mitch McConnell]] |location=New York |publisher=Simon & Schuster |isbn=9781501112034 |oclc=967908174}}
* {{Cite book |last=McConnell |first=Mitch |year=2016 |title=The Long Game: A Memoir |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9cO3CgAAQBAJ |location=New York |publisher=Sentinel |isbn=9780399564109 |oclc=951149855}}
* {{cite book | last=Tackett | first=Michael | title=The Price of Power: How Mitch McConnell Mastered the Senate, Changed America, and Lost His Party | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VF0CEQAAQBAJ | publisher=Simon and Schuster | publication-place=New York | date=2024 | isbn=978-1-6680-0584-2}}

==External links==
{{Sister project links|wikt=no|v=no}}
* [https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/ Senator Mitch McConnell] official U.S. Senate website
* [https://www.teammitch.com/ Mitch McConnell for Senate]
* {{CongLinks | congbio=m000355 | votesmart=53298 | fec=S2KY00012 | congress=mitch-mcconnell/1395 }}
* {{C-SPAN}}
* [https://www.politifact.com/personalities/mitch-mcconnell/ Mitch McConnell's file] at [[PolitiFact]]
* {{cite episode|title=Supreme Revenge: Battle for the Court|series=Frontline|series-link=Frontline (American TV program)|network=[[PBS]]|station=[[WGBH-TV|WGBH]]|date=November 24, 2020|season=39|number=7|url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/documentary/supreme-revenge/|access-date=November 1, 2023}}
* {{cite episode|title=McConnell, the GOP & the Court|series=Frontline|network=PBS|station=WGBH|date=October 31, 2023|season=42|number=5|url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/documentary/mcconnell-the-gop-the-court/|access-date=November 1, 2023}}

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