Illinois Democrats walk tightrope as Durbin delays 2026 decision
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Sen. Richard Durbin leaves the Capitol earlier this month. Photo: Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
Sen. Dick Durbin has yet to announce whether he'll seek another term, but that's not stopping would-be successors from starting their campaigns.
Why it matters: The 80-year-old, an U.S. senator from Illinois since 1996, is the second highest ranking Democrat in Washington.
Context: Durbin is expected to decide soon whether he'll run for reelection in 2026, but insiders have speculated that he would retire.
The intrigue: Illinois Democrats who have their eyes on his seat are walking a tightrope of respecting the elder Democrat while also starting a campaign statewide.
- Why it matters for them: An endorsement from the influential and widely liked Durbin is at stake.
State of play: Several members of Illinois' congressional delegation are rumored to be interested in running to succeed Durbin, including Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi, Robin Kelly, Sean Casten and Lauren Underwood.
- They have all recently hosted or participated in town hall meetings in Republican parts of the state, including outside their districts, to counter the current president's policies and court would-be voters in parts of the state who may not be familiar with suburban Chicago Democrats.
- They are also amassing large fundraising war chests, including Krishnamoorthi, who has raised just shy of $20 million. That outpaces almost all the other would-be candidates' fundraising combined.
Meanwhile: Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, who is also in the mix for higher office, took part in a Principles First dinner Tuesday night with former Illinois lawmakers Adam Kinzinger and Dan Lipinski, both moderates.
The latest: Last week, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle implored Durbin and Gov. JB Pritzker (who is also up for reelection next year) to make up their minds while inviting potential candidates to speak to the Cook County Democratic Party.
What they're saying: "Needless to say, there would be a lot of ripple effects if either of them decided not to run, but those decisions are their own, and hopefully they'll make them relatively quickly," Preckwinkle said to reporters at the meeting.
Reality check: Durbin could end all of the political jockeying if he shocks the political world and decides to run for reelection. He wouldn't be the first senator to continue serving into his 80s.
The bottom line: Preckwinkle said she expects Durbin to make a decision as soon as May, potentially setting off one of the most competitive election primaries we've seen in a long time.