LINK: Mitch McConnell won’t seek reelection in 2026

When Senator Mitch McConnell first announced that he would not be running for reelection, I must admit that my reaction was one of relief and borderline excitement. I admittedly have strong feelings about the senator from Kentucky. In spite of the fact that he and I have the same political party registration, I do not believe we hold all of the same convictions and values. Not everyone shares my opinion, but I am quite happy that we soon will no longer have to deal with him in Congress. I believe that, even though he is a supposed conservative, he has played a part in the downward spiral of our country. To me, McConnell embodies the establishment “conservative” Republican who, over time, has served those with power and position to keep his own rather than serving the country in the best possible way for the people. I cannot fully communicate all the evidence in this single Daily Report, but I can share a few of my thoughts.

He is a victim of his own ambitions.

McConnell admits in his biography that his life’s ambition was to be the Senate majority leader. Once one has achieved that goal, it must be hard to remember that this position is not about one’s own ambition but about the country’s well-being. It is my personal belief that he has worked harder through positioning and compromise to keep himself in the position of power—or to position himself to regain power—than he has worked to do what is best for the country. An example of this is his open opposition to an “America First” agenda and his loyalty to the ruling class agenda.

His time has passed.

There is no doubt that the world has changed, and so has our country, since he acquired his Senate seat in 1985. Just as there have been times in our nation’s past when we have broken from the status quo, this political season has demanded the same. His unwillingness—or perhaps his unawareness—has allowed his moment in history to pass him by, rendering him ineffective.

It has become about him and not about the country.

McConnell has made the mistake, in my opinion, that many politicians make: They forget their job is about serving the people who elected them, not about serving themselves. His positions and compromises over the years have been more about advancing himself and his influence than about furthering the good of the country.

His end overshadows the good he accomplished.

I know there is a counterargument to my position: to consider all the good he has accomplished. I concur and cede to this point. It is true that Mitch McConnell has helped accomplish some good—and even remarkable things—for our country. Sadly, his compromises with the enemies of America and his unwillingness to help advance policies that better our nation will overshadow these accomplishments. In my opinion, he has been actively working in the last decade against the will of the people and for the will of the Republican Party and Congress, which is inexcusable. This is unfortunate because, in the minds of many, it will overshadow any good work he has done.

I realize that not everyone will feel the way I do about Senator Mitch McConnell or about politics in general. I am fine with that. I have developed my opinion based on American history and by simply observing his actions. Hopefully, the next senator from Kentucky will break from the mold of the ruling class to serve his constituents first instead of the lobbyists and foreign dignitaries.

May we all put our nation above our ambitions.