Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., will not run for re-election in 2026 and will instead retire, the longtime senator announced Thursday.
The announcement comes after a series of health scares for McConnell, who has frozen up during statements to the public on multiple occasions.
His office never provided an explanation for the episodes.
Most recently, McConnell fell while exiting the Senate chamber earlier this month. He also fell during a GOP lunch in December.
McConnell's announcement comes roughly a year after he ceded his role as Republican leader in the Senate, ultimately to be replaced by Sen. John Thune, R-S.D.
"One of life’s most underappreciated talents is to know when it’s time to move on to life’s next chapter," he said in floor remarks at the time. "So I stand before you today... to say that this will be my last term as Republican leader of the Senate."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.