WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, who was elected to the Senate in 1984 and rose to be his party’s leader in that chamber until stepping down from leadership prior to the current Congress, used the occasion of his 83rd birthday to announce he will not seek another term.

McConnell made the announcement in a speech from the floor of the Senate Thursday morning.

“Seven times, my fellow Kentuckians have sent me to the Senate,” McConnell said. “Every day in between I’ve been humbled by the trust they’ve placed in me to do their business here. Representing our commonwealth has been the honor of a lifetime. I will not seek this honor an eighth time. My current term in the Senate will be my last.”

The next election for McConnell’s seat will take place in 2026. Republicans jockeying to replace him include Sixth District U.S. Rep. Andy Barr, former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron and Lexington businessman Nate Morris, while on the Democratic side, there is speculation that Gov. Andy Beshear could seek the office.