Inside the potentially bitter fight to replace Dick Durbin
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Sen. Dick Durbin speaks at a press conference at the U.S. Capitol on March 4. Photo: ALLISON ROBBERT/AFP via Getty Images
Sen. Dick Durbin's (D-Ill.) announcement Wednesday that he is retiring rather than running for reelection in 2026 is likely to set off a fierce Democratic primary for his seat.
Why it matters: Durbin himself predicts that "at least a dozen" candidates will jump into the race, with at least three House Democrats and the state's lieutenant governor all eyeing bids.
- Reps. Lauren Underwood and Raja Krishnamoorthi could start out as the frontrunners, according to polling data released last month.
- The race could quickly get expensive: Krishnamoorthi has amassed a $19 million war chest, and Underwood has over $1 million in cash on hand. Rep. Robin Kelly also has $2 million in cash.
Driving the news: "The decision of whether to run for reelection has not been easy. I truly love the job of being a United States senator. But in my heart, I know it's time to pass the torch," Durbin, 80, said in a video.
- The Senate minority whip and Judiciary Committee ranking member said he "will not be seeking reelection at the end of my term."
- Durbin is not immediately endorsing a potential successor, but he did not rule out throwing his weight behind someone in the future, according to the Chicago Sun Times.
What we're hearing: Underwood is widely expected to jump into the race, with one source familiar with the matter telling Axios the writing is on the wall and that it's just a matter of "when" and not "if."
- A House Democrat, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Axios: "I think Raja Krishnamoorthi is going to run."
- Kelly, the former chair of the Illinois Democratic Party, has also been looking at a run, as Axios previously reported. So has Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton.
Zoom out: The primary could be an expensive headache for Senate Democrats at a time when they are already dealing with several other possible slugfests.
- Rep. Haley Stevens on Tuesday jumped into the race for retiring Michigan Sen. Gary Peters' seat and will face off against state Sen. Mallory McMorrow and Dr. Abdul El-Sayed.
- Rep. Angie Craig is also expected to run against Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan for retiring Sen. Tina Smith's seat.
- Senate Democrats also hope to get former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper to run for Senate even as former Rep. Wiley Nickel is already in the race.
The other side: Republican Rep. Darin LaHood is also considering jumping into the race, though his announcement may not happen any time soon, a source familiar with his thinking told Axios.
- LaHood's campaign said in a statement that he is "focused on delivering conservative leadership for all Illinoisans that offers a clear alternative to the failed liberal policies driving families and businesses out of Illinois."
- Illinois is a reliably Democratic state — Durbin won reelection in 2020 by 16 percentage points — meaning any GOP nominee would face an uphill battle.
- Former Rep. Rodney Davis, the onetime House Administration Committee ranking member who lost his GOP primary in 2022 and now works for the Chamber of Commerce, told Axios he is not running for the seat.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional reporting.
