In a statement made on Wednesday, Rep. Matt Gaetz, a Republican from Florida, celebrated the news that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky, will resign from his leadership role at the end of the year.
During a floor speech on Wednesday, McConnell—who turned 82 just last week—announced that he will resign as the Senate’s GOP leader in November, citing his advanced age.
“The father time still hasn’t lost. I’m not the young guy in the back hoping my coworkers would remember who I was,” McConnell declared. “The next generation of leaders is needed now.”
In a statement, Gaetz stated that McConnell’s choice came after the resignation of Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and the declaration by Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel that she would leave her position next month.
“McDaniel, McConnell, and McCarthy have now been 86’d,” Gaetz said on social media. “The Republican Party has brighter days ahead of them.”
Earlier this week, McDaniel declared her intention to leave her position on March 8.
She said in a statement on Monday, “I have chosen to step aside at our Spring Training on March 8 in Houston to allow our nominee to select a Chair of their choosing.” “I have always intended to uphold the tradition that the RNC undergoes changes once we have a nominee.”