Quick Hit:

Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell, the outgoing Senate Minority Leader, has been a dominant force in Washington for nearly four decades—but from privately calling Trump "stupid" and working against Trump-endorsed candidates, McConnell’s record has solidified his role as a key figure of establishment resistance to the populist shift within the GOP.

Key Details:

• McConnell worked closely with President Biden to pass the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill in 2021, securing 19 Republican votes in the Senate. The bill included funding for green energy projects but failed to address Republican priorities like border security or significant spending cuts.

• During the 2022 midterms, McConnell redirected Senate Leadership Fund resources away from Trump-endorsed Senate candidates like Blake Masters in Arizona, instead focusing on establishment allies such as Lisa Murkowski in Alaska.

• In a 2024 biography, McConnell was quoted as privately referring to Trump as “stupid” and a “despicable human being” after the 2020 election. Despite these remarks, McConnell later endorsed Trump’s 2024 presidential bid.

Diving Deeper:

Mitch McConnell’s nearly four decades in the Senate have made him one of the most influential—and controversial—Republican leaders in history. While McConnell has been praised for his strategic prowess, grassroots conservatives argue that his leadership has consistently undermined their priorities in favor of preserving the GOP establishment’s control.

Following the 2020 election, McConnell publicly acknowledged Joe Biden as president-elect and urged Republicans not to challenge the Electoral College certification. On January 6th, 2021, McConnell took to the Senate floor to warn that contesting the results would set a “dangerous precedent” and “damage our republic forever.” His remarks and refusal to support Trump’s objections to the election results alienated MAGA supporters and deepened the divide between establishment Republicans and the populist wing of the party.

McConnell’s backing of the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure bill was another flashpoint for conservatives. The $1.2 trillion package included significant spending on green energy initiatives, mass transit projects, and other Democrat priorities, while failing to address Republican calls for stronger border security or spending cuts. McConnell not only voted for the bill but also helped secure its passage by encouraging other Senate Republicans to support it, sparking backlash from grassroots conservatives who viewed the legislation as a giveaway to Democrats at the expense of GOP principles.

During the 2022 midterms, McConnell’s control over campaign funding became a source of significant tension within the party. As head of the Senate Leadership Fund, McConnell diverted millions from battleground races featuring Trump-endorsed candidates like Blake Masters in Arizona and Mehmet Oz in Pennsylvania. Instead, he prioritized the re-election of establishment allies such as Lisa Murkowski in Alaska. Many conservatives argue these decisions cost the GOP critical Senate seats, accusing McConnell of sabotaging MAGA-aligned candidates to maintain his grip on party leadership.

McConnell’s fiscal decisions have also drawn criticism from Republicans concerned about government overreach. In addition to the infrastructure bill, McConnell supported several bipartisan spending packages during the Trump administration that added trillions to the national debt. Fiscal conservatives argue that McConnell abandoned the GOP’s commitment to limited government and responsible spending, prioritizing short-term political gains over long-term policy goals.

As McConnell steps down from his leadership role, his legacy remains deeply divisive. While the GOP establishment views him as a skilled tactician, grassroots conservatives see him as emblematic of a Republican leadership that has resisted the party’s populist shift. 

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“Mitch McConnell” by Gage Skidmore is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED.