Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell will step down as GOP leader in November, the Kentucky Republican announced on the Senate floor Wednesday, marking the end of an era on Capitol Hill and setting up a high-stakes race for his successor. He will continue to serve in the US Senate but will allow “the next generation of leadership” to take the helm of the Senate Republican Conference. In 2023, McConnell became the longest-serving Senate party leader in history. McConnell on Wednesday said his decision to step down came following the death of his wife Elaine Chao’s youngest sister, Angela, in a traffic accident earlier this month. Mitch McConnell speaks on the Senate floor on Wednesday.

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Persons: Mitch McConnell, ”, McConnell, ” McConnell, “, Chuck Schumer, Republican Sen, Lisa Murkowski, Elaine Chao’s, Angela, they’ve, CNN’s Dana Bash, Kristin Wilson Organizations: Kentucky Republican, Capitol, Senate Republican Conference, Senate, Republican, Kentucky Locations: Washington ,, New York, Alaska