Senator Dick Durbin, the second-ranking Democrat in the Senate, will retire at the end of his term next year, creating an open seat in a state that leans Democratic.
Democratic Senator Dick Durbin announced he will not seek reelection next year, setting the stage for a competitive intra-party contest to fill his seat in the Democratic-leaning state of Illinois. Durbin, 80, made the announcement on social media, expressing his love for the job but acknowledging it was time to pass the torch. \Control of both chambers of the U.S. Congress will be up for grabs in the 2026 midterm elections.
President Donald Trump's Republicans currently hold majorities in both the Senate and House of Representatives. Democrats will face an uphill battle to try to reclaim the Senate, where Republicans hold a 53-47 majority. Durbin, the Senate's No. 2 Democrat, was first elected to that chamber in 1996, after having served for 14 years in the House.
Dick Durbin Illinois Senate Election 2026 Democratic Party Retirement
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