Mitch McConnell is one of the most influential politicians in the United States, serving as the Senate Minority Leader since 2021 and the senior senator from Kentucky since 1985. He has been the leader of the Senate Republican Conference since 2007 and is the longest serving Senate party leader in US history. But who are the people behind this powerful figure? Let’s take a look at Mitch McConnell’s family and how they have shaped his life and career.
Early Life and Parents
Mitch McConnell was born on February 20, 1942 in Sheffield, Alabama, to Addison Mitchell McConnell and Julia Odene “Dean” Shockley McConnell. His father was an industrial engineer who worked for DuPont, and his mother was a homemaker who raised him and his three younger sisters1 McConnell’s family moved several times during his childhood, living in Georgia, Alabama, and Kentucky.
McConnell contracted polio when he was two years old, and his mother took him to Warm Springs, Georgia, where he received treatment from the foundation established by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. McConnell recovered from the disease, but his left leg remained slightly weaker than his right. He credits his mother for saving him from permanent disability by following the doctors’ instructions and exercising his leg daily.
McConnell was interested in politics from an early age, inspired by his grandfather, who was a county judge in Alabama. He also admired Senator John Sherman Cooper, a moderate Republican from Kentucky, who became his mentor and role model. McConnell graduated from the University of Louisville with a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1964, and from the University of Kentucky College of Law with a juris doctor degree in 1967.
First Marriage and Children
Mitch McConnell married his first wife, Sherrill Redmon, in 1968. They met at the University of Kentucky, where Redmon was a graduate student in history. They had three children together: Elly, Claire, and Porter3 McConnell and Redmon divorced in 1980, after 12 years of marriage. Redmon later became a feminist scholar and activist, and the director of the Sophia Smith Collection at Smith College, a women’s history archive.
McConnell’s children have pursued different careers and interests. Elly is a health care executive and consultant, who has worked for several health care organizations and companies. Claire is a progressive environmentalist and social justice advocate, who has been involved in various grassroots campaigns and movements. Porter is a venture capitalist and entrepreneur, who has founded and invested in several technology startups and firms.
Second Marriage and Stepchildren
Mitch McConnell married his second wife, Elaine Chao, in 1993. They were introduced by Senator Stuart Symington, a mutual friend, at a reception in Washington, D.C. Chao is a Taiwanese-American politician and businesswoman, who has served as the Secretary of Transportation under President Donald Trump from 2017 to 2021, and as the Secretary of Labor under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2009. She is the first Asian-American woman and the first Chinese-American in US history to be appointed to a Cabinet position.
Chao has two sisters, May and Christine, and a brother, James. Her father, James S.C. Chao, is a wealthy shipping magnate and philanthropist, who founded the Foremost Group, a global shipping and trading company. Her mother, Ruth Mulan Chu Chao, was a historian and educator, who died in 2007.
Chao has four stepchildren from her previous marriage to John B. Breaux Jr., a lawyer and lobbyist. They are John B. Breaux III, Scott Breaux, Jennifer Breaux, and Amy Breaux.
Political Influence and Controversies
Mitch McConnell and Elaine Chao have been described as a political powerhouse, with both of them holding prominent positions and roles in the federal government and the Republican Party. They have also been accused of using their influence and connections to benefit themselves, their families, and their allies, especially in relation to China and the shipping industry.
Some of the allegations and controversies that have surrounded McConnell and Chao include:
- McConnell’s support for China’s admission to the World Trade Organization in 2000, which critics claim has harmed the US economy and workers.
- Chao’s alleged conflicts of interest and ethical violations as Secretary of Transportation, such as favoring Kentucky projects, promoting her family’s business, and failing to divest from companies that she regulated.
- McConnell’s opposition to campaign finance reform and disclosure, which critics claim has enabled him and his allies to receive millions of dollars from wealthy donors and special interests, especially from the shipping industry.
- McConnell’s role in blocking or delaying the confirmation of President Barack Obama’s judicial nominees, including Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland, and in confirming President Donald Trump’s judicial nominees, including Supreme Court justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett.
Conclusion
Mitch McConnell’s family is a complex and influential one, with members who have achieved remarkable success and faced serious challenges in their personal and professional lives. McConnell’s family has also shaped his political views and actions, as well as his public image and reputation. McConnell’s family is a reflection of the diversity and dynamism of the American society, as well as the controversies and conflicts that characterize the American politics.