WASHINGTON – Mitch McConnell, the longest-serving Senate leader in U.S. history, will step down from the position in November.

McConnell, who turned 82 years old last week, was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1984 and has served as the GOP Senate leader since 2015.

Missouri U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley tells FOX 2 that he considers McConnell’s decision to step down “a welcome result” and “overdue.”

Hawley says he called on McConnell to step down over a year ago and recently voted no on him to remain the Senate Republican leader.

“My only question is, why wait so long?” said Hawley in a one-on-one chat Wednesday with FOX 2. “November’s a long time away. We need new leadership now. Leadership that is going to prioritize the American people over defense contractors, that’s going to prioritize our border over foreign wars.”

He continued, “We have got to turn the page in this party in the United States. This is a good first step, but we need new leadership. We need more of it, and we need it quick.”

It remains to be determined who answers the call to succeed McConnell as the Senate GOP leader. Hawley does not expect to be among those candidates.

“I think I can best serve the people by continuing to slug away in the trenches,” said Hawley. “We got an enormous amount of work to do, beginning with the victims of nuclear radiation in St. Louis, St. Charles, Missouri, and all across the country [and] getting them compensated by the government.”

Hawley has been pushing to fund victims of radioactive contamination in the St. Louis area and calling for action for several years. He says Mitch McConnell has been a major obstacle in accomplishing his goals.

“For that reason alone, I’m glad he’s going. It’s time now to do the right thing by the American people.”

McConnell’s run as Senate leader will end after serving the last year-plus through some recent health scares.

Fellow Missouri U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt released the following statement Wednesday to FOX 2 on McConnell’s planned departure:

“I thank Leader McConnell for his decades of service in leadership in the United States Senate. Much will be said in the coming weeks and months, but Republicans must now look to the future and focus on continuing to deliver for our constituents, to taking back the majority in November, to enacting important conservative reforms, and to electing strong leadership to usher in a new era of success and prosperity for the American people.”