McConnell’s Departure Means More Turbulence for a Changing GOP

Mitch McConnell‘s decision to step aside as Senate minority leader raises questions about a Republican Party already buffeted by turbulence, the future of deal-making in a chamber that requires compromise, and GOP support for a strong US presence on the international stage.

The Kentucky lawmaker, who announced his decision Wednesday, has been a pillar of national policy debates and Republican strategy for almost two decades, setting a record as the Senate’s longest-serving leader. Now he’s leaving that role at a time of already dramatic upheaval in Congress, US politics, and global affairs.

Here are some issues the chamber and ...