...Senator-for-Life from Illinois and Democratic Party Whip. In April 2006, Time magazine identified Durbin as one of America's 10 Best Senators,so what's that tell you? He was the first United States Senator to support the presidential candidacy of Barack Obama, then the junior senator from Illinois...>
(D-Ill.) announced Wednesday that he will not seek re-election in 2026, saying he would ''pass the torch'' to up-and-coming leaders in his party after completing 44 years in Congress.
The no. 2 Democrat in the Senate posted a video message on X explaining his decision to step down after having served five terms — ''longer than anyone elected to the Senate'' in Illinois' history.
''The decision of whether to run for re-election has not been easy. I truly love the job of being a United States senator,'' Durbin said. ''But in my heart, I know it's time to pass the torch.''