No. 2 Senate Democrat announces retirement after four decades in Congress

Democratic Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, the No. 2 Senate Democrat, announced his retirement after 44 years in Congress on Wednesday.

Durbin, 80, was up for reelection in 2026 and was widely expected to not seek a sixth term in the Senate. He is the fourth Senate Democrat to announce their retirement in 2025.

Durbin is the longest-serving Senate whip in American history, occupying the No. 2 position for Senate Democrats for two decades.

He explained his decision to not seek reelection as knowing it was time to pass the torch.

“I have to be honest about this. There are good people in the wings, good people on the bench ready to serve, and they can fight this fight just as effectively as I can,” Durbin told the New York Times. “There comes a point where you have to face reality that this is the time to leave for me.”

Durbin’s retirement is likely to set off a contested Democratic primary to succeed him in the Senate.

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