Apr 23, 2025 - Politics & Policy

Dick Durbin retiring after nearly 3 decades in the Senate

Stephen Neukam

Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., leaves the Senate Democrats' lunch meeting in the Capitol on Tuesday, April 8, 2025. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images) — Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., in the Capitol on Tuesday, April 8, 2025. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), the Senate Democratic whip, announced his retirement on Wednesday.

Why it matters: Durbin's retirement will kick off one of the first open leadership contests in a decade, continuing a generational change in the Senate Democratic caucus.

Durbin, 80, was facing reelection next year.
Durbin is a longtime member of Senate Democratic leadership and has been in the Senate since 1997. He has served in Congress since 1983.
His retirement will also open up what is likely to be a hotly-contested primary in Illinois to fill the Senate seat.

The big picture: Durbin joins a growing list of Senate Democrats who are calling it quits ahead of the 2026 election.

Sens. Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) have all announced their retirements this year. Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) is also running for governor.
Next year's elections could mirror the last, when younger Democrats were elected to replace a number of retiring senior Senate Democrats.

Go deeper: Schumer's growing primary headache

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Dick Durbin retiring after nearly 3 decades in the Senate

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