Who Will Fill the Illinois Senate Seat After Durbin’s Exit?

Illinois Senator Dick Durbin has announced his retirement after nearly 30 years in office, creating a rare opening that could have many candidates vying for the Senate seat in the solidly blue state.

Quick Takes

Senator Dick Durbin, 80, announced he won’t seek reelection in 2026, ending a Senate career that began in 1996.
His departure creates a rare open Senate seat in Illinois, with many candidates running or considering a run.
Potential candidate Rep. Lauren Underwood leads early polling among Democratic contenders, while another potential candidate Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi has the early fundraising advantage.
Illinois remains a solidly Democratic state, with forecasters expecting the party to maintain control of the seat.
The eventual candidate will likely need Durbin’s endorsement to gain an edge in what’s expected to be a crowded primary field.

Durbin’s Legacy and Retirement Announcement

Senator Dick Durbin, the second-ranking Democrat in the Senate who has been serving Illinois since 1996, announced his retirement. When his term concludes, he will tie with former Illinois Senator Shelby Collum as the longest-serving US senator in the state’s history. As the Senate Democratic Whip and ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Durbin has been a key legislative force in Washington for decades, championing causes including the Dream Act, DACA, and the bipartisan First Step Act for criminal justice reform.

“The decision of whether to run for re-election 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. So, I am announcing today that I will not be seeking re-election at the end of my term,” Durbin stated in his retirement announcement.

At 80 years old, Durbin joins a growing list of senior Democratic senators choosing not to seek reelection, including New Hampshire’s Jeanne Shaheen and Minnesota’s Tina Smith. His decision comes amid increasing calls from Democratic voters for longtime legislators to make way for younger generations of leadership.

The Race to Replace a Senate Stalwart

With Durbin’s announcement, a potentially crowded field of Democratic contenders is already forming. A recent poll conducted by 314 Action Fund among likely Democratic primary voters shows US Representative Lauren Underwood holding a slight lead among potential candidates. However, the race is wide open, with no candidate achieving more than 19% support in early polling. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi has already established a significant fundraising advantage, providing an early edge in what could be an expensive primary campaign.

So far, only Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton among the Democrats has thrown her hat into the ring. On the Republican side, former House candidate Doug Bennett and Air Force veteran John Goodman have both announced their bids.

A Deep Democratic Bench in Illinois

Other potential Democratic candidates include Representatives Robin Kelly and Delia Ramirez, State Treasurer Michael Frerichs, and even former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who currently serves as US Ambassador to Japan. Durbin himself acknowledged that there are “at least a dozen serious potential candidates” for his seat, but he has not announced any endorsements.

While Illinois has remained a blue state in recent elections, a Republican victory in 2026 would reportedly be possible. Representative Darin LaHood has not ruled out a Senate bid, though the Cook Political Report still classifies the race as solid Democrat. Election forecasters widely expect Democrats to retain the seat, especially given the state’s increasingly progressive voting patterns in federal elections.