LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., was in Louisville Wednesday, Aug. 7 to speak with Republican lawmakers in town for a national conference. McConnell discussed Republican success across the U.S., the upcoming election and his concerns about isolationism.

What You Need To Know

  • Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., addressed the newly minted Democratic presidential ticket at a Louisville conference

  • McConnell said he thinks the Democrats will move to pack the Supreme Court, eliminate filibustering in Congress and move to grant statehood to Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico 

  • Harris has said she supports Supreme Court reform laid out by President Joe Biden

McConnell's speech comes a day after Vice President Kamala Harris announced her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear was believed to be on the short list for VP.

“I think they have given us a ticket here that represents the far left of the Democratic Party,” McConnell said of the Harris-Walz ticket. “And by the way, that’s most Democrats today.”

He addressed his concerns should Harris win in November over former President Donald Trump.

“Let's assume our worst nightmare: the Democrats went to the White House, the House, the Senate," he said. "The first thing they'll do is get rid of the filibuster. Second, you'll have two new states, D.C. (and) Puerto Rico. That's four new Democratic senators in perpetuity.”

McConnell added Democrats will also attempt to pack the Supreme Court. Last month, Harris indicated she supports Supreme Court reforms proposed by President Joe Biden, which do not include expanding the number of justices. 

“If they get those two new states and pack the Supreme Court, they'll get what they want," McConnell said. "By the way, on packing the Supreme Court ... you may know this already. It's unconstitutional." 

Speaking with reporters after McConnell’s speech, Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, offered his input on why Harris chose Walz as her running mate. 

“They’re trying to appeal to a rural voter that they have not appealed to in years,” Stivers said. “Now, whether they can or they can’t, that becomes a good question, and I think that will be based on the policies that they put forward. And hopefully, that’s what we get into.”

Swing states like Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Michigan will likely hold the key to a presidential win this year. Stivers added there is much uncertainty about who will come out on top. 

“I mean, I think it’s going to be a hotly contested presidential race," Stivers said. "I think it will be a close presidential race. But who wins? I don’t know."

Speaking on the election, Stivers said he has appreciated the national attention Kentucky has received. Beshear was reportedly considered a potential running mate for Harris and Trump's running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, has ties to eastern Kentucky.

“As a Kentuckian, that makes you proud that you have the influence at the national level, of a mid-population state,” Stivers said.

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