Updated September 19, 2026.
McConnell announced in February 2025 that he would not seek reelection and said his current Senate term would be his last. The term is scheduled to end in January 2027.
What changed?
He stepped down as Republican leader after the 2024 election. John Thune became Republican leader in January 2025 while McConnell remained in the Senate.
Final-term priorities
After returning to the Senate in September 2026, McConnell highlighted farm legislation, NATO ties and countering Russian aggression in Ukraine.
Sources
McConnell final-term announcement · U.S. Senate
Related Video
Official Source
Official Senate biography and public record
Posts by Senator Mitch McConnell
