Watch live: McConnell to announce retirement

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who stepped down from leadership last year, announced Thursday that he will not seek reelection in 2026. His term ends in January 2027.

McConnell, the longest-serving party leader in the upper chamber in U.S. history, announced nearly a year ago that he would serve out the entirety of his seventh term. He picked his 83rd birthday to announce his intent to retire.

“Every day in between I’ve been humbled by the trust they’ve placed in me to do their business here. Representing our commonwealth has been the honor of a lifetime. I will not seek this honor an eighth time,” he wrote in prepared remarks shared with The Associated Press, which was first to report the news. “My current term in the Senate will be my last.”

The move comes after a experiencing a series of medical issues, including from falls and freeze ups while giving remarks.

Watch the live video above.