The Senate’s No. 2 Democrat is calling it quits and won’t seek reelection, according to reports on Wednesday — a move that surely stunned Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY). Democratic U.S. Senator Dick Durbin has confirmed he will not seek a sixth term, telling WBEZ in an exclusive interview that he plans to leave office in 2027. The long-anticipated decision is expected to trigger a fierce intraparty battle over his successor.
“I’ve decided not to run for re-election. So a year and a half from now, I’ll be wrapping up. I plan on working full-time until that moment, but I’m not going to be waging a campaign for re-election,” Durbin said during an interview in downtown Chicago, WBEZ reported. A key factor in his decision was his age; by the end of a sixth term, Durbin would be 88 years old.
“It’s time,” Illinois’ 80-year-old senior senator said. “You observe your colleagues and watch what happens. For some of them, there’s this miraculous aging process where they never seem to get too old. “Take Bernie Sanders, for example, who’s older than myself, or Chuck Grassley, who still does a town meeting in every county of the state each year,” he continued, referring to Vermont’s octogenarian independent U.S. senator and to Iowa’s nonagenarian Republican senator, who both are older than Durbin.
“But for a number of other people, they’re not so lucky,” he continued. “So, you watch aging, and I try to gauge it to the point where I can walk out the front door. I don’t have to be carried out. I feel that way now. I’m physically and mentally strong. But I don’t want to wait too long and test fate.” Durbin had kept his decision private, informing only a select group of friends. He notified his staff on Wednesday morning that he would not be seeking re-election.
The field of potential Democratic successors is already taking shape, with prominent names including former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, and U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, who has built a formidable $19 million campaign fund. Other possible contenders include U.S. Reps. Lauren Underwood and Robin Kelly. Durbin has said he does not plan to endorse anyone in the primary—unless, he noted, a situation arises that he feels is “serious and I need to address it.” His seat is expected to remain Democratic in blue Illinois, though he could be replaced by a younger, more far-left contender.
