Mitch McConnell to step down as Republican Senate leader in November

• Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky will step down as Republican leader in the Senate in November,
• McConnell, 82, revealed his plan in an address in the Senate.
• McConnell, who is the longest-serving Senate caucus leader in history, plans to keep his seat in the chamber. His term ends in January 2027.
• He has had a complicated relationship with fellow Republican Donald Trump, the former president who is seeking the GOP nomination this year.

Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said Wednesday that he will step down as Republican leader in the Senate in November.

McConnell, 82, revealed his plans in an address to the Senate, where he currently serves as minority leader.

McConnell, who is the longest-serving Senate caucus leader in history, plans to keep his seat in the chamber, which he took in 1985. His current term ends in January 2027.

"To serve Kentucky, has been the honor of my life, to lead my Republican colleagues has been the highest privilege," McConnell said.

"But one of life's most underappreciated talents is to know when it's time to move on to life's next chapter, so I stand before you today, Mr. President and my colleagues, to say this will be my last term as Republican leader of the Senate," he said.

He noted "this has been a particularly difficult time for my family," including his wife, former Cabinet secretary Elaine Chao.

"We tragically lost Elaine's younger sister Angela, just a few weeks ago," McConnell said.

Chao's sister, Foremost Group CEO Angela Chao died on Feb. 11 from an apparent drowning after her car went into a pond on a ranch outside Austin, Texas, which land records show is owned by a entity linked to the office of her husband, venture capitalist Jim Breyer.

"When you lose a loved one, particularly