On Wednesday, the No. 2 Senate Democrat, Dick Durbin of Illinois, announced he will not seek re-election in 2026, setting the stage for a potentially contentious battle within his own party.
The 80-year-old senator, who has served since 1997, shared his decision on X, signaling the end of a long career:
The decision of whether to run for re-election 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.
So, I am announcing today that I will not be seeking re-election at the end of my term. pic.twitter.com/eiBTPjToFT
— Senator Dick Durbin (@SenatorDurbin) April 23, 2025
“The decision of whether to run for re-election has not been easy,” Durbin wrote on X. “I truly love the job of being a 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 re-election at the end of my term.”
His exit will ignite a fierce Democratic primary race to replace him in Illinois, a state where Republicans are unlikely to mount a serious challenge.
Illinois has