Republican Mitch McConnell, a shrewd political tactician who tilted the Supreme Court to the right but whose traditional brand of conservatism was overtaken by Donald Trump’s populism, announced he won’t seek reelection to the US Senate in 2026.

McConnell, the longest-serving Senate party leader in U.S. history, chose his 83rd birthday to share his decision.

Sen. Mitch McConnell will not seek reelection in 2026, he announced Thursday. McConnell, who turned 83 on Thursday, has dealt with a series of health scares in recent years and has recently sparred with President Trump, even though both men are Republicans.