Dick Durbin, the No. 2 Senate Democrat, announced Wednesday that he will retire after 44 years in Congress.
“There comes a point where you have to face reality that this is the time to leave for me,” the Illinois senator, 80, told The New York Times. Durbin, who is serving his fifth Senate term, will not seek re-election in 2026.
In a video posted to X, the Senate minority whip said the decision wasn’t an easy one: “I truly love the job of being a United States senator. But in my heart, I know it’s time to pass the torch.”
Durbin is the fifth sitting senator to announce retirement—all of whom are over the age of 65, part of a broader generational shift in Congress as aging lawmakers begin to step aside.
His departure opens up a highly coveted Senate seat in reliably blue Illinois and will likely spark a competitive Democratic primary.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
