Mitch McConnell and his wife, Elaine Chao, have long been viewed as one of Washington’s most influential power couples, with each building a high-profile career in their own lane.
Married since 1993, the two have remained side by side through decades of political life and personal challenges. McConnell has faced several health issues over the years, including undergoing triple heart bypass surgery in 2003. He was also hospitalized in February 2026 after experiencing flu-like symptoms.
Throughout it all, Chao—who made history as the first Asian American woman to serve in a U.S. presidential cabinet under Donald Trump from 2017 to 2021—has remained a strong presence during both the highs and lows.
While the couple never had children together, McConnell is the father of three daughters from his first marriage to Sherrill Redmon.
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McConnell and Wife, Chao, Married in 1993
Mitch McConnell and Elaine Chao tied the knot on February 5, 1993, choosing a low-profile, private ceremony held at the Capitol chapel rather than a public celebration.
The date carried personal meaning for both. It fell on the birthday of former President Ronald Reagan, came seven weeks before Chao turned 40, and lined up neatly with a week-long Senate recess.
Their paths crossed through mutual friends. According to The New York Times, McConnell—then a Senate aide—had befriended Stuart Bloch, a liberal public-interest lobbyist, back in the 1960s. The friendship lasted decades, and in the early 1990s, Bloch invited McConnell to a dinner with his wife, Julia Chang, and Chang’s protégée, Chao. That evening eventually led to McConnell and Chao getting to know each other more closely.
Despite coming from very different backgrounds—Chao, who is of Chinese descent, immigrated to the United States from Taipei, Taiwan, at the age of eight, while McConnell descends from a Revolutionary War soldier and was born and raised in the American South—the two have never framed their marriage around those contrasts.
Talking about their age gap, the lovebirds have an 11-year age difference, but their marriage has been described as strong and enduring, with both sharing a deep commitment to Republican politics and public service.
They Don’t Have Any Children
Although McConnell and Chao have been married for decades, the couple never had children together.
Chao has spoken candidly about that part of her life, acknowledging that her career path may have influenced the choice. “I try not to have too many regrets,” Chao told CNN. “In my generation, we were taught that we can have it all. … It doesn’t work like that. So I try to counsel young women, regardless [of] whether they want it or not, there are tradeoffs and sacrifices in life.”
McConnell Shared Three Children With His Ex-Wife
Before marrying Elaine Chao, Mitch McConnell was married to Sherrill Redmon from 1968 to 1980.
During their marriage, the former couple welcomed three daughters: Porter, Eleanor (Elly), and Claire. While Eleanor and Claire have largely stayed out of the public eye, Porter McConnell has forged a visible career in advocacy.
Porter currently serves as Campaign Director for Take On Wall Street, a coalition of labor unions, community organizations, and consumer advocates focused on reforming the financial system and pushing policies aimed at supporting working families.
