Mitch McConnell, 83, won't seek reelection in 2026

• McConnell, who stepped down from leadership last year, addressed colleagues on the Senate floor on Thursday. He received a standing ovation afterward.
• "Representing our commonwealth has been the honor of my lifetime. I will not seek this honor an eighth time," McConnell said. "My current term in the Senate will be my last."
• He said his birthday, Feb. 20, was as good a time as any to make his announcement.

The big picture: The senator oversaw aggressive Republican efforts to slash taxes and reshape the federal courts.

• His health scares in recent years, including freezing in front of reporters and several falls, reignited criticism of older public officeholders staying in their roles.
• He eventually endorsed Trump during the election but had previously condemned his role in the Jan. 6 Capitol attack.

What he's saying: McConnell's speech focused on what has long been his top priorities — preserving the important role of the Senate, confirming judges, investing in U.S. defense and preserving the filibuster.

• He said he still has "some unfinished business" to attend to in what is left of his term.

• "Regardless of the political storms that may wash over this chamber during the time I have remaining, I assure our colleagues that I will depart with great hope for the endurance of the Senate as an institution," McConnell said.
• "There are any number of reasons for pessimism, but the strength of the Senate is not one of them," he added.

Zoom in: A biography published in October drew on thousands of archival materials, letters and more than 100 interviews to piece together the senator's life story.

Go deeper: Mitch McConnell takes his revenge on Trump

Editor's note: This is a developing story and will be updated.