Longtime Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin will not seek re-election in 2026

Durbin, 80, is tied for the fifth-most senior member of the Senate, having been elected in 1996.

His decision to step aside leaves creates a vacancy that Illinois Democrats will likely scramble to fill in the deep-blue state, as it has a deep bench of federal and local lawmakers who might want to seek a promotion.

A progressive group, 314 Action, recently released a hypothetical poll testing a possible Democratic prim field that included Reps. Lauren Underwood, Raja Krishnamoorthi and Robin Kelly, as well as Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton. The group, which supports candidates from science and technology backgrounds, has backed Underwood in the past.

Adding to the uncertainty, Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker hasn’t confirmed whether he plans to run for re-election as he continues to focus heavily on countering President Donald Trump. If he decides to leave the governor’s mansion ahead of a possible presidential bid in 2028, it’s possible that open seat could draw significant interest, too.

Durbin’s seat is expected to remain in Democratic hands, even though Trump made gains in the state in November. Then-Vice President Kamala Harris won Illinois by 11 percentage points, with 54% of the vote.

Senate Democrats praised Durbin’s congressional career.

“For more than four decades, Senator Dick Durbin has been a pillar of leadership, integrity, and unwavering dedication to the people of his home state of Illinois and the nation,” Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, a leadership member, said in a statement.