Mitch McConnell (Statewide)

Biography

Addison Mitchell "Mitch" McConnell III, born on February 20, 1942, in Sheffield, Alabama, is a prominent American politician and attorney who has represented Kentucky in the U.S. Senate since 1985. A member of the Republican Party, McConnell has held several key leadership positions, including Senate Majority Leader from 2015 to 2021 and Senate Minority Leader from 2007 to 2015 and again from 2021 to 2025. He is recognized as the longest-serving Senate party leader in U.S. history. Throughout his tenure, McConnell has been instrumental in shaping the federal judiciary by facilitating the confirmation of numerous conservative judges and Supreme Court justices. He has also played a pivotal role in advancing Republican legislative priorities, such as the 2017 tax overhaul. In February 2024, McConnell announced he would step down as Senate Republican leader in November 2024 but would serve the remainder of his Senate term, which concludes in January 2027.

Education and Political Experience

• Education:

  • Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Louisville
  • Juris Doctor from the University of Kentucky College of Law

• Political Experience:

  • Legislative Assistant to U.S. Senator Marlow Cook
  • Deputy Assistant Attorney General under President Gerald Ford
  • Judge/Executive of Jefferson County, Kentucky
  • U.S. Senator from Kentucky
  • Senate Majority Whip
  • Senate Minority Leader
  • Senate Majority Leader

McConnell's extensive career reflects his significant influence on American politics, particularly in legislative strategy and judicial appointments.