Mitch McConnell News
The Daily Signal provides coverage of Mitch McConnell’s leadership in the Senate, his legislative strategy, and influence on conservative policymaking, with analysis and commentary.
-
- News
Ron Johnson, Mike Braun Back Rick Scott to Unseat Mitch McConnell
Republican Sens. Ron Johnson and Mike Braun will be nominating Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., to unseat Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. “I’ll be nominating him,” Johnson, R-Wis., told The Daily Signal in a Tuesday evening phone call. “What I’ve been asking for is a different governing model for our conference, one that is far…Mary Margaret Olohan -
- News
Mitch McConnell Fractures Shoulder in Fall Outside Home
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell fell Sunday outside his home in Louisville, Kentucky, fracturing his shoulder. “This morning, Leader McConnell tripped at home on his outside patio and suffered a fractured shoulder. He has been treated, released, and is working from home in Louisville,” McConnell spokesman David Popp said in a statement, according to The Washington…Evie Fordham -
- News
Mitch McConnell Responds to Dinner Crashers: ‘I Will Not Be Intimidated’
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says he isn't fazed by his encounter with a man who confronted him and his wife while they were out to dinner last weekend in Louisville, Kentucky. "I will not be intimidated," McConnell wrote in an op-ed Tuesday describing the incident Friday night at the Havana Rumba restaurant. The Kentucky…Molly Prince -
- News
Mitch McConnell Makes Senate Confirm 15 More Judges Before Going Home
The Senate approved a package of President Donald Trump’s judicial nominees Thursday, notching another 15 confirmations just days after Justice Brett Kavanaugh was installed on the U.S. Supreme Court. The confirmations came as half a dozen Democratic lawmakers, particularly those in red states, were pressed to return home to defend their Senate seats for the…Kevin Daley -
- News
Conservatives Prevail as Mitch McConnell Cancels Senate Recess to Get Things Done
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has cancelled the traditional August recess following repeated calls from conservative senators to stay in Washington to pass a budget and confirm dozens of President Donald Trump’s nominees. “Due to the historic obstruction by Senate Democrats of the president’s nominees, and the goal of passing appropriations bills prior to the…Rachel del Guidice -
- News
Mitch McConnell Acquiesces to Conservatives’ Calls to Scale Back Senate’s August Recess
The Senate will have less time off in August so the lawmakers can work longer on priorities such as health care and tax reform, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced Tuesday after repeated calls to do so from conservatives. McConnell pointedly blamed Democrats for the lack of accomplishments since the new Republican-controlled Congress adjourned in…Rachel del Guidice -
- News
Mitch McConnell Finds ‘Lot to Like’ in GOP’s Obamacare Replacement Bill
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell stumped Thursday for House Republican leadership’s American Health Care Act at a press event, saying, “There’s a lot to like about it.” “It repeals a significant number of taxes on the American people, [and] Republicans usually like repealing taxes,” McConnell said, in a jab at conservative lawmakers who are balking…Caleb Ecarma -
- News
Mitch McConnell Complains About ‘Unreasonable’ Conservatives, Points Blame at Talk Radio
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell takes pride in his reputation as a great compromiser. But the Republican leader won’t concede on one point: He refuses to let conservatives fight the White House for lower spending levels. McConnell, R-Ky., outlined his political roadmap for government spending on Tuesday, sketching out the routes he sees available: an…Philip Wegmann -
- News
Conservative Groups Call on Mitch McConnell, Paul Ryan to Not Hold a Lame-Duck Session
A group of 75 conservative leaders want Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., to promise that Congress will not hold a lame-duck session after the November elections. “At a time when the American people’s trust in their government is near an all-time low, the Republican-led Congress should demonstrate exemplary…Leah Jessen -
- News
Mitch McConnell Pressuring Banking Committee Chairman to Move on Export-Import Bank Nominees
As many Senate Republicans continue to oppose holding hearings for President Barack Obama’s nominee to the Supreme Court, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is urging Senate Banking Committee Chairman Richard Shelby to move the White House’s nomination to the Export-Import Bank’s board of directors, according to a GOP Senate staffer. The staffer told The Daily…Melissa Quinn -
- News
Mitch McConnell Promises House Members He Won’t Back Down in Supreme Court Fight
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell left the Senate to address House Republicans’ weekly conference meeting Tuesday morning. His message was simple: Senate Republicans will hold fast to their promise not to advance a Supreme Court nominee. Rep. Tim Huelskamp, R-Kan., summed up the closed-door appearance this way: “Mitch McConnell said to members, ‘Read my lips: No…Philip Wegmann -
- News
House Conservatives and Mitch McConnell Make Nice
A regular target of conservatives, Mitch McConnell often takes flak for political hesitancy and his willingness to cut bipartisan deals in the Senate. But Tuesday night, the Senate majority leader won high praise from leaders of the House Freedom Caucus for promising to block the confirmation of any new nominees to the Supreme Court until…Philip Wegmann -
- News
Conservative Leaders Rally Against Mitch McConnell’s Campaign Finance Measure
As the Senate gears up to debate the $1.1 trillion omnibus spending bill, conservative leaders are pushing back against a measure floated by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell boosting the amount of money political parties can spend in coordination with candidates. In a letter circulated among conservative groups, nearly 50 conservative leaders Thursday rallied in opposition…Melissa Quinn -
- News
Conservatives Accuse Mitch McConnell of Playing Politics With Debate Over NSA ‘Spying’ Program
House conservatives today accused Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of playing politics with the 2015 USA Freedom Act, a measure designed to scale back the government’s mining of personal data in the post-9/11 era. “I believe Mitch McConnell supports the USA Freedom Act,” Rep. Justin Amash, R-Mich., told reporters today at a panel event on…Kelsey Bolar -
- News
Why Mitch McConnell Insists Any Iran Deal Must Have Congressional Approval
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will insist that any deal President Obama strikes with Iran be approved by Congress. The Kentucky Republican told CBS News’ Bob Schieffer on “Face The Nation” this morning that he’s “very worried” about the Obama administration’s approach to Iranian nuclear negotiations. Asked by Schieffer if any deal reached between Obama…Kate Scanlon -
- News
Mitch McConnell Concedes Homeland Security Funding Bill Is ‘Stuck’ in Senate
In a move that surprised some Republicans in Congress, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told reporters his chamber is “stuck” in its standoff with Democrats over funding the Department of Homeland Security. He put the onus on the House of Representatives to come up with a solution. “I think it’s clearly stuck in the Senate,…Kelsey Bolar