Dick Durbin, the second highest Democratic group of the US Senate, announced that he would not ask for his re -election in 2026, ending a career in the Senate which extends over almost three decades.
The Senator of Illinois, 80 years old, who has been used since 1996, posted on social networks that he planned to leave his duties in 2027 at the end of his mandate – which means that there will be an open primary for his replacement at mid -term.
“I really love being an American senator, but in my heart, I know it’s time to pass the torch,” Durbin said in a video press release.
As a democratic whip of the Senate and classification member of the judicial committee, the departure of Durbin represents a significant loss of influence for Illinois. His release will leave one of the most powerful positions in Washington and will end a career marked by his influence on national policy and leading federal funding to his country of origin.
The veteran legislator cited his age as a main factor in the decision, noting that he would be 88 years old at the end of a sixth potential term. The news of her retirement was reported for the first time by Wbez and the New York Times.
“It’s time,” Durbin told Wbez. “You observe your colleagues and look at what’s going on. For some of them, there is this miraculous aging process where they never seem to become too old. ”
It is not a total surprise, because the speculation of his retirement began to tend to Washington earlier this month after his federal financial report has shown that he had raised just north of $ 42,000 this first quarter of this year, a derisory sum for a politician interested in occupying his position in mid-term.
However, Durbin’s announcement should trigger intense competition between the Democrats of Illinois who want to take place. The potential list of successors includes the former mayor of Chicago, Rahm Emanuel, the Lieutenant-Governor of Illinois, Juliana Stratton, and the representative Raja Krishnamoorthhi, who pooled a campaign fund of $ 19 million. The representatives Lauren Underwood and Robin Kelly are also considered as possible candidates.
His departure could provide an opening to the Republicans to contest the headquarters, although the Illinois tends the Democrat in the last elections. The last Republican senator from Illinois was Mark Kirk, who lost his candidacy for Tammy Duckworth in 2016.
