Dick Durbin Of Illinois Won't Seek Reelection To A Sixth Term In 2026

2 weeks ago Sen. Dick Durbin's decision to not seek reelection ends his more than four-decade career representing Illinois and accelerates a generational shift in Senate Democratic leadership where he has long held the No. 2 position. Durbin said Wednesday he knows “it’s time to pass the torch.” Durbin is in his fifth Senate term and was first elected to the House in 1982. Durbin's decision not to run in 2026 will set off a scramble for his Senate seat in solidly Democratic Illinois and for his leadership position. As the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee during President Joe Biden’s term, Durbin led the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.