McConnell, Mitch

McConnell, Mitch (Addison Mitchell McConnell, Jr.), 1942–, U.S. politician, b. Tuscumbia, Ky., grad. Univ. of Louisville (B.A. 1964), Univ. of Kentucky Law School (J.D., 1967). A conservative Republican, he was elected judge-executive of Jefferson co., Ky., in 1978 and served two terms before winning a seat in the U.S. Senate in 1984. Subsequently reelected (1990, 1996, 2002), he chaired the Senate ethics (1995–97) and rules and administration 1999–2001) committees and was well known for his strong opposition to the McCain-Feingold finance reform bill. Senate Republican whip from 2003 to 2007, he became the minority leader in 2007.