Durbin, No. 2 Senate Democrat, to Retire After 44 Years in Congress
Source: NYT
By Carl Hulse
Reporting from Washington
April 23, 2025
Senator Richard J. Durbin of Illinois, the No. 2 Senate Democrat for two decades and a leading liberal voice on Capitol Hill, will not seek re-election next year, closing out a 44-year congressional career focused on immigration, the federal justice system and anti-smoking initiatives.
The decision to be announced on Wednesday by Mr. Durbin, 80, was widely expected and will immediately touch off a crowded competition for a rare Senate vacancy in his solidly blue state. It also intensifies a generational shift in the chamber as he becomes the fifth sitting senator to announce a retirement, all of them over the age of 65.
In an interview revealing his plans, Mr. Durbin, who is in his fifth Senate term, said it was not an easy choice to step away from his prime perch doing battle with President Trump, whom he considers a dire threat to democracy. He described moments in recent days “where I thought, ‘Man, I don’t want to miss this fight.’”
“But you know,” he continued, “I have to be honest about this. There are good people in the wings, good people on the bench ready to serve, and they can fight this fight just as effectively as I can. There comes a point where you have to face reality that this is the time to leave for me.”
Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/23/us/dick-durbin-retires-senate.html
= new reply since forum marked as read
resident of Illinois I'm glad he's retiring. He has been a strong representative for Illinois but it's time to bring younger more invigorating ideas and leadership. I thank him for his long effective work for the country.
Just sayin'
Can't imagine a Republican replacing him in Illinois.
In 1992, I was working for North Point Aviation at Mt Hawley Airport in Peoria, IL when a Beech King Air flew in. I walked up to the hatch, swung it down and down walks Sen Paul Simon (the Paul Simon with the bow tie
) and senate candidate Carol Moseley-Braun. Shook their hands, chatted, etc. This was before Sen Durbin. Nice visit! 
The only politician I've ever met is the congressman whose campaign I worked on, sure wish we had him now! 
(Unless, of course, I count President Clinton...)
My Dad, on the other hand, got to know Shirley Chisholm and Nelson Rockefeller. He became a lifelong admirer of Shirley Chisholm.
Yeah, I know, it was Reagan.
And joined the other living former presidents - Carter and Ford - to support President Clinton's 1994 Assault Weapons Ban!
But these days I'd prefer George Bush* (who wrote a letter of support to Liz Cheney when she was serving on the January 6th Committee) to what we've got now - or, as my camp friends and I agreed, the next person who drives by. 
