NED is honoring Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell with the Democracy Service Medal for his distinguished leadership in support of freedom and defense of democracy champions around the world, from Burma to Ukraine.
Mitch McConnell is the United States Senate Republican Leader, the longest-serving Senate Party Leader in American history, and Kentucky’s longest-serving senator. McConnell has been praised as one of “the three most important Republicans of the past 100 years.” TIME Magazine has thrice named McConnell one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World. As Majority Leader, McConnell led a transformation of the federal judiciary, leading the Senate confirmation of 234 lifetime appointments to the federal bench. Throughout his career, he has championed an internationalist foreign policy grounded in a strong national defense, engagement with allies, and defense of democratic institutions and values worldwide. McConnell is a graduate of the University of Louisville and the University of Kentucky College of Law. He serves as a senior member of the Appropriations, Agriculture, and Rules Committees. McConnell is married to Elaine L. Chao, former Secretary of Transportation and Secretary of Labor.
