| | '''Addison Mitchell "Mitch" McConnell, Jr.''', born February 20, 1942 (age {{age|1942|2|20}}), is the senior [[Republican]] United States Senator from [[Kentucky]] and the current Senate [[Minority Leader]]. Although his voting record has been rated as [[conservative]] by some,<ref>[https://www.ontheissues.org/Senate/Mitch_McConnell.htm Mitch McConnell on the Issues]</ref> McConnell is an establishment [[RINO Backer]] who has blocked [[pro-life]] legislation ([[Mitch McConnell#Blocking_Graham-Cassidy_bill|see below]]), pushed for [[pro-abortion]] nominees to the courts, and who sometimes rams through [[liberal]]-favored deals to increase the [[debt ceiling]].<ref>[https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2017/08/21/mitch-mcconnell-zero-chance-vote-freeze-debt-limit/ Mitch McConnell Vows to Raise U.S. Debt Ceiling]</ref> McConnell is an enemy of [[free speech]] by [[Donald Trump]] and more than 74 million of his supporters. '''''In 2020, Trump outran McConnell in his home state by more than 4% among voters'''''. By November 2022, McConnell's unfavorable-favorable rating was 81%-7%.<ref>https://www.libertynation.com/mcconnell-gop-establishment-must-control-primary-outcome/</ref> | | '''Addison Mitchell "Mitch" McConnell, Jr.''', born February 20, 1942 (age {{age|1942|2|20}}), is the senior [[Republican]] United States Senator from [[Kentucky]] and the current Senate [[Minority Leader]]. Although his voting record has been rated as [[conservative]] by some,<ref>[https://www.ontheissues.org/Senate/Mitch_McConnell.htm Mitch McConnell on the Issues]</ref> McConnell is an establishment [[RINO Backer]] who has blocked [[pro-life]] legislation ([[Mitch McConnell#Blocking_Graham-Cassidy_bill|see below]]), pushed for [[pro-abortion]] nominees to the courts, and who sometimes rams through [[liberal]]-favored deals to increase the [[debt ceiling]].<ref>[https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2017/08/21/mitch-mcconnell-zero-chance-vote-freeze-debt-limit/ Mitch McConnell Vows to Raise U.S. Debt Ceiling]</ref> McConnell is an enemy of [[free speech]] by [[Donald Trump]] and more than 74 million of his supporters. '''''In 2020, Trump outran McConnell in his home state by more than 4% among voters'''''. By November 2022, McConnell's unfavorable-favorable rating was 81%-7%.<ref>https://www.libertynation.com/mcconnell-gop-establishment-must-control-primary-outcome/</ref> |
| | + | McConnell's protege Justin Reed Walker, who was appointed to the [[D.C. Circuit]] despite relatively little experience or achievement, provided the swing vote for the 2-1 decision upholding sweeping indictments against the [[J6 Capitol protests|J6 rally attendees]] in ''[[United States v. Fischer]'' (D.C. Cir. Apr. 7, 2023). |
| | In the [[2026 GOP Senate primaries]], McConnell could face defeat by any one of three popular [[conservative populism|conservative populist]] challengers. | | In the [[2026 GOP Senate primaries]], McConnell could face defeat by any one of three popular [[conservative populism|conservative populist]] challengers. |