*(CNN) — Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell will step down as GOP leader in November, the Kentucky Republican announced on the Senate floor Wednesday, marking the end of an era on Capitol Hill and setting up a high-stakes race for his successor.
McConnell, who turned 82 last week, said, “The end of my contributions are closer than I prefer.”
“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,” he said. “A moment when I am certain I have helped preserve the ideals I so strongly believe. That day arrived today”
McConnell has long been a towering figure in Washington, DC, and has made history throughout his political tenure.
In 2018, McConnell reached a key milestone, surpassing former Sen. Bob Dole of Kansas to become the longest-serving Republican leader in the chamber’s history.
McConnell said his decision to step down came following the death of his wife Elaine Chao’s youngest sister, Angela, in a traffic accident earlier this month.
“As some of you may know, this has been a particularly difficult time for my family. We tragically lost Elaine’s younger sister, Angela, just a few weeks ago. When you lose a loved one, particularly at a young age, there’s a certain introspection that accompanies the grieving process. Perhaps it is God’s way of reminding you of your own life’s journey to reprioritize the impact of the world that we will all inevitably leave behind,” he said.
He thanked his wife of 31 years, calling her the “love of my life” and that “I’m eternally grateful to have her by my side.”
This story has been updated with additional developments.
CNN’s Ted Barrett, Kristin Wilson and Morgan Rimmer contributed to this report.
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