Sen. Dick Durbin ending his four-decade career in Congress

Sen. Richard J. Durbin of Illinois, the No. 2 Democrat in the Senate, will not seek reelection to a sixth term next year and will retire in January 2027.

Mr. Durbin, 80, made the announcement Wednesday in a video on social media.

“The decision of whether to run for reelection has not been easy. I truly love the job of being a United States senator,” he said. “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.”

Mr. Durbin has been in Washington since 1983, when he was first elected to represent Illinois’ 20th district in the House. He was elected to the Senate in 1997.

He currently serves as Senate minority whip, behind Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer of New York. Mr. Durbin is also the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee.

Upon news of Mr. Dubin’s retirement plans, Mr. Schumer celebrated him as “a trusted partner, one of the most respected voices in the Senate for decades, my dear friend, and, of course, my former roommate.”

“His deep commitment to justice, his tireless advocacy for Americans in need, and his wisdom in leadership have left an indelible mark on this institution, the United States, and his beloved Illinois,” Mr. Schumer said. “The Senate and the country are better because of his service. To my friend, Dick: Thank you, for everything.”

From his longtime perch in Senate leadership, Mr. Durbin led the Democrats’ charge on lenient immigration and border policies, a position that voters across the country rejected with the election of President Trump in November.

He has long championed “Dreamers,” the children brought into the U.S. illegally who grew into adults and still lack legal status. The topic hit close to home for Mr. Durbin, he said, because his mother emigrated from Lithuania in 1911 as a child, though she likely arrived legally under the lax restrictions of that era.

In 2001, he first introduced the DREAM Act, which would create a pathway to citizenship for migrant children.

He has also been a strong proponent of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals or DACA, which President Obama created in 2012 as a response to Congress’ inability to pass the DREAM Act.

Mr. Durbin’s exit opens yet another seat that Democrats will look to defend in their pursuit of recapturing the majority in the upper chamber. He joins fellow Democratic Sens. Tina Smith of Minnesota, Gary Peters of Michigan and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, who all announced their retirements earlier this year.

Senate Republicans and their campaign arm, the National Republican Senatorial Committee, are intent on growing their thin majority in the upper chamber and view the wave of retirements as a prime opportunity to strike.

“Republicans will do whatever it takes to hold and grow our Majority in 2026,” NRSC spokesperson Joanna Rodriguez told The Washington Times. “Senate Democrats know that and would rather retire and jump ship than defend their choice to prioritize criminal illegal aliens over the Americans that elected them.”

The GOP made gains in deep blue Illinois last year when President Trump improved his margin of defeat, losing by 11 points in 2024 after losing by 17 points in 2020.

Still, Senate Republicans have their work cut out for them to capture Mr. Durbin’s seat, which he won by 16 points in 2020.

Rep. Darin LaHood, Illinois Republican, has reportedly left the door open for a possible Senate bid. Mr. LaHood’s political director, Jake Ford, said in a statement that Mr. Durbin’s retirement was “long overdue,” and noted that the House Republican had amassed roughly $6 million through the first quarter of fundraising.

“While we wish him well in retirement, Illinoisans are ready to turn the page,” Mr. Ford said. “Voters are tired of out-of-touch liberal policies that have failed working families, and prioritized illegal immigrants and far-left ideological agendas over hard-working American taxpayers.”

Several Illinois Democratic lawmakers are eyeing the race now that Mr. Durbin has confirmed his decision to retire. Among those are Reps. Lauren Underwood, Raja Krishnamoorthi and Robin Kelly. Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton is also a potential Senate candidate.

A recent poll commissioned by the progressive political action committee 314 Action Fund found that Ms. Underwood and Mr. Krishnamoorthi would be early front-runners in a hypothetical primary that was contingent on Mr. Durbin’s retirement.

The poll found that in a four-way race, Ms. Underwood and Mr. Krishnamoorthi were statistically tied with 33% and 30% support, respectively.

However, Mr. Krishnamoorthi has amassed a sizable campaign war chest with $19 million, raising $3 million in the first quarter alone, according to financial records. Ms. Underwood has just over $1 million on hand, while Ms. Kelly has amassed roughly $2 million.

The Washington Times reached out to Senate Democrats’ campaign arm, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, for comment.

Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly spelled Sen. Jeanne Shaheen’s first name.