U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell

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A man in a black suit, red tie, and glasses smiles at the camera.

Senator Mitch McConnell is Kentucky's longest-serving senator. Elected nine times to lead the Republican conference from 2006-2024, he is also the longest-serving Senate party leader in American history. From 2015 to 2021, McConnell was just the second Kentuckian to serve as Senate Majority Leader, following Senator Alben Barkley (1937 to 1949). He previously served in leadership as the Majority Whip and as chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

McConnell made history 1984 as the only Republican challenger in the country to defeat an incumbent Democrat and as the first Republican to win a statewide Kentucky race since 1968. On November 3, 2020, he was elected to a record seventh term, winning 117 of the Commonwealth's 120 counties.

McConnell graduated with honors from the University of Louisville College of Arts and Sciences, where he served as student body president. He also graduated from the University of Kentucky College of Law and was elected president of the Student Bar Association. He is the proud father of three daughters.

McConnell founded the McConnell Center at the University of Louisville in 1991 based on his belief that "Kentucky's future depends on inspiring talented, motivated leaders." The non-partisan program seeks to identify, recruit, and nurture Kentucky's next generation of great leaders. The core principles - leadership, scholarship, and service - guide the program as they (1) prepare top undergraduate students to become future leaders; (2) offer civic education programs for teachers, students and the public; and (3) conduct strategic leadership development for the U.S. Army.

McConnell is married to Secretary Elaine Chao, the 18th U.S. Secretary of Transportation. She served eight years as President George W. Bush's Secretary of Labor. She is also a former president of the United Way of America and director of the Peace Corps.

Visit the McConnell Chao Archives in the basement of Ekstrom Library at the University of Louisville to learn more about U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell.