In Washington, a significant shift is on the horizon for the Senate Democratic leadership, as Illinois Senator Dick Durbin announced on Wednesday that he will not seek reelection in 2026. This marks the end of his extensive four-decade-long career serving the state of Illinois, throughout which he has been a prominent figure in Senate leadership. At 80, Durbin is currently serving his fifth term in the Senate, following his initial election to the House in 1982. His decision not to run again is expected to ignite a competitive race for his Senate seat in the heavily Democratic state of Illinois, as well as his influential position in Washington, where many in the party are eager for a fresh and more assertive strategy to counter Republican President Donald Trump in his second term.
Durbin expressed his sentiments in a video shared on X, noting, “The decision of whether to run has not been easy. I truly love the job of being a United States senator. But in my heart, I know it’s time to pass the torch.” Over his career, he has held substantial roles, including serving seven terms in the House before succeeding his mentor, Paul Simon, in the Senate in 1996. Since 2005, Durbin has held the prestigious position of No. 2 Senate Democrat, significantly shaping the careers of notable figures such as Barack Obama. Obama’s long-established relationship with Durbin was highlighted in a post on X, where he acknowledged, “I would not have been a United States Senator – and certainly would not have been President – had it not been for Dick’s support.”
Throughout President Joe Biden’s term, Durbin has chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee, where he led the successful confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson in 2022. He also played a crucial role when opposing President Trump and Senate Republicans during the confirmation of Justice Amy Coney Barrett in late 2020. Durbin’s departure from the Senate leadership team—which has been largely stable for two decades—signals potential changes for an expansive shift towards younger Democratic leaders. This team has included current Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York and the late Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, who retired in 2017 and passed away in 2021. As younger Democrats appear poised for leadership roles, contenders for Durbin’s No. 2 spot, such as Hawaii Sen. Brian Schatz, have already expressed admiration, with Schatz stating that Durbin has been “a pillar of leadership, integrity, and unwavering dedication to the people of his home state of Illinois and the nation.”
Among Durbin’s significant legislative contributions, his substantial efforts to restrict smoking indoors are widely recognized. Having lost his father to lung cancer at a young age, he championed legislation that led to the ban on smoking on short commercial flights starting in 1987 and expanded nearly two years later to encompass most domestic flights. His impact extended beyond this, sparking questions about the safety of secondhand smoke in public places. In the 2000s, Durbin introduced the DREAM Act, offering undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children a path to citizenship. Although it has never been enacted, Durbin collaborated with Indiana Senator Richard Lugar to initiate Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) with President Obama, affecting approximately 830,000 immigrants.
Durbin was key in overturning drug laws that imposed disproportionate penalties on crack versus powder cocaine, particularly impacting Black defendants. The revised legislation, implemented retroactively, resulted in reduced sentences for many individuals. Furthering his reformist drive, Durbin led efforts on the bi-partisan First Step Act, enacted under Trump’s presidency in 2018, aiming to reform sentencing laws and aid inmates in reintegrating into society.
Born in East St. Louis in 1944, Durbin graduated from Georgetown University in 1966, embarking on his career as an intern for Senator Paul Douglas, whose seat he holds today. After earning a law degree, Durbin served as legal counsel to Paul Simon, then Illinois’ lieutenant governor, and later entered public service. In 1982, he unseated longtime Republican congressman Paul Findley, catalyzed by electoral district changes and policy disputes. Later in his career, Durbin was named as a potential vice presidential candidate for Al Gore in 2000, and notably contributed as an advisor to Obama during his presidential campaign, establishing the valuable legacy Durbin leaves behind as he concludes his substantial political journey.