Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), the No. 2 Senate Democrat, announced on Wednesday that he would not be seeking reelection, capping off a decades-long Senate career.
“The decision of whether to run for reelection has not been easy. I truly love the job of being United States Senator. But in my heart, I know it’s time to pass the torch. So, I am announcing today that I will not be seeking reelection at the end of my term,” Durbin said in a video announcement posted on X.
First elected to the Senate 1996, the 80-year-old Durbin has served in the upper chamber for five terms. Before that, he served in the House representing Illinois’ 20th District between 1983 and 1997. A top member of Senate Democratic leadership, he’s served as Senate Democratic Whip since 2005 and is the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Speculation around his next steps has been growing for months, particularly earlier this month when he reported raising roughly $42,000 between January and March of this year.
Durbin said in his announcement that “the challenges facing our country are historic and unprecedented” and vowed that he would “do everything in my power to fight for Illinois and the future of our country every day of my remaining time in the Senate.” He also gave a shoutout to his family and Illinois Senate colleague, Tammy Duckworth (D), in his video.
Durbin is the fourth Senate Democrat to forgo reelection, joining Sens. Gary Peters (Mich.), Tina Smith (Minn.) and Jeanne Shaheen (N.H.).
His retirement is expected to trigger a hotly contested primary for his seat.
The Democrats who could launch bids for Durbin’s seat include Reps. Robin Kelly, Raja Krishnamoorthi and Lauren Underwood, in addition to Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton. Krishnamoorthi, in particular, has amassed a massive war chest of $19.4 million.
Given the state’s Democratic leanings, whoever wins the Democratic contest for Durbin’s seat is seen as the heavy favorite to win next November.
Updated at 11:51 a.m..
