McConnell says chances good he will seek new term in office
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Out with a new book this year, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell signaled on Sunday that he’s far from reaching the epilogue of his long political career. The Kentucky Republican said there’s a “great likelihood” he’ll seek a seventh Senate term in 2020.
The 74-year-old McConnell, appearing on the “Kentucky Newsmakers” TV program, sounded more like a politician who sees himself in the prime of his career.
“I’m at the top of my game,” McConnell told the Lexington station. “I think I’ve been effective in serving our people, and there’s a great likelihood I’ll run again.”
McConnell, first elected to the Senate in 1984, has four years left in his current term.
McConnell already is the longest-serving senator in Kentucky’s history. If he won another term in 2020, it would put him on course to serve well into his 80s.
In 2014, McConnell overcame a fierce challenge from Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes to win his sixth term and achieve his dream job in the Senate.
The big-spending campaign that garnered national attention turned into a rout, with McConnell winning by some 15 percentage points. With that victory, McConnell achieved his goal of becoming Senate majority leader when the GOP took control of the Senate.
“The blowout win showed that the voters of Kentucky respect and appreciate the work he does,” Tres Watson, a Republican spokesman, said. “If he chooses to run in 2020, I see no reason to believe that will change, regardless of the challenger.”
