Durbin Confirms Intent to ‘Pass the Torch,’ Setting Off Jockeying by Would-Be Senate Successors

In the wake of longtime Illinois Democrat Sen. Dick Durbin announcing his retirement Wednesday, politicians are looking back on the 80-year-old Senate minority whip’s tenure and also looking ahead to who will replace him.

“In my heart, I know it’s time to pass the torch. So, I am announcing today that I will not be seeking reelection at the end of my term,” Durbin said.

Durbin, who has served as a senator from Illinois since 1997, and a member of the House for 14 years before that, has long been a hard-nosed Democrat fighter.

The five-term senator steered his caucus on decisions such as blocking a COVID-19 relief package in the middle of the 2020 election season, and killing a bill that would have prohibited transgender athletes in federally funded school athletic programs.

A recent example of compromise, however, was his vote for a stopgap funding bill in March to keep the government open. The decision of Senate Democrat leadership to back the Republican bill spurred backlash from some firebrand members of Durbin’s party.

Former President Barack Obama, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., and other top Democrats sent kind wishes to Durbin on X after his announcement. Obama served with Durbin in the Senate from Illinois for nearly four years, from January 2005 to November 2008, when the former resigned ahead of becoming president.

One Republican who sent his best wishes to Durbin was 91-year-old Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, who wrote on X, “I’ll b sorry 2 see him retire from the Senate. Obviously he’s liberal & I’m conservative yet we hv a wonderful working relationship.”

Durbin’s retirement announcement comes in the wake of fellow Democrat Sens. Gary Peters of Michigan, Tina Smith of Minnesota, and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire also deciding against seeking reelection next year.

Republican voter-registration activist Scott Presler gloated about the latest exit on X, writing, “More than 1/3 of the Democrat senators up in 2026 are retiring. This is HUGE!”

For some in the Democratic Party, Durbin’s exit suits their political goals.

David Hogg, a Democratic National Committee vice chair, who has pushed for a projecting a more youthful party image and for primarying incumbents, thanked Durbin for stepping aside. 

“Thank you for your incredible service to our country, your leadership, and for passing the torch to the next generation!” he wrote.

Durbin’s announcement opens up an opportunity for other Illinois Democrats seeking to fill his soon-to-be vacant Senate seat.

Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., who raised millions of dollars amid the Durbin retirement speculation, touted his own public service when addressing Durbin’s announcement.

“I will be honored to fight alongside him as we continue to deliver for Illinois,” he said in a statement.

Democrat Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, who has reportedly sought Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker’s endorsement to replace Durbin, also may have signaled her intentions in her statement.

“We’ll work hard to carry on his legacy of delivering real solutions for the middle class,” she said.