BREAKING: Texas Senator John Cornyn Announces Bid To Replace Mitch McConnell

"I have learned a lot during my time both in and out of Senate leadership," Cornyn, who served as GOP Whip from 2013 to 2019 and has long been seen as a McConnell protege, said. "During my two terms as NSC Chair, we shrunk Democrats' majority by five seats and laid the foundation to retake the majority in 2014. Then as the Republican Whip, I helped President Trump advance his agenda through the Senate, including passing historic tax reform and remaking our judiciary - including two Supreme Court Justices."

"Throughout my time I've built a track record of listening to colleagues and seeking consensus, while leading the fight to stop bad policies that are harmful to our nation and the conservative cause. I believe the Senate is broken - that is not news to anyone," he continued. "The good news is that it can be fixed, and I intend to play a major role in fixing it."

As previously reported by the DC Enquirer, McConnell announced his resignation from the Republican leadership position on Wednesday, explaining, “One of life’s most underappreciated talents is to know when it’s time to move on to life’s next chapter. So I stand before you today ... to say that this will be my last term as Republican leader of the Senate.”

“As I have been thinking about when I would deliver some news to the Senate, I always imagined a moment when I had total clarity and peace about the sunset of my work. A moment when I am certain I have helped preserve the ideals I so strongly believe. It arrived today," McConnell said. "I still have enough gas in my tank to thoroughly disappoint my critics, and I intend to do so with all the enthusiasm with which they've become accustomed."

The 82-year-old senator from Kentucky, who has been in office since 1985, is expected to serve the remainder of his term that ends in January 2027.

You can follow Sterling on X/Twitter here.