Center congratulates McConnell for milestone

(June 12, 2018) LOUISVILLE, Ky.–U.S. Senate Majority Mitch McConnell becomes longest-serving Republican Leader in history of U.S. Senate.
Center congratulates McConnell for milestone

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer discuss current affairs and policy with McConnell Scholars Feb. 12, 2018, at the University of Louisville.

Today, the McConnell Center congratulates Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for becoming the longest-serving Republican Leader in the history of the U.S. Senate.

McConnell surpasses former Kansas Sen. Bob Dole, who served as Senate Republican Leader from 1985 until 1996, according to the Senate Historical Office.

“Leader McConnell established the McConnell Center when he was just a junior U.S. Senator from Kentucky,” commented Dr. Gary Gregg, director of the McConnell Center. “Even as his national prominence and obligations have increased dramatically since then, he has never wavered in his support of our program and our Kentucky students.”

McConnell served as Senate Minority Leader from 2007 to 2015 before he was elected Majority Leader, a position he has held since 2015.

“Since becoming Leader of his party, the Senator has brought 21 speakers to our campus,” Gregg noted. “These guests include leading members of both parties, demonstrating that even in this tense political environment there is still room for partnerships and mutual respect across the partisan aisles.”

Notable McConnell Center guests have included President George W. Bush, U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, Vice President Joe Biden, several cabinet secretaries, and, most recently, Senate DemocraticLeader Chuck Schumer. A full list of the Center’s distinguished guests is available online.

McConnell was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1984 and became Kentucky’s longest-serving senator in 2009.

A civic education gallery highlighting McConnell’s record of public service is housed at the University of Louisville’s McConnell Center and is open to the public.

By GlyptusAnn Grider Jones