Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) announced on April 23, 2025, that he will not seek re-election to the U.S. Senate in 2026.

On his retirement, Durbin said, “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.”

In 1996, Durbin, who previously represented Illinois’ 20th Congressional District from 1983 to 1997, ran for the Senate after then-Sen. Paul Simon (D-Ill.) announced he would not seek re-election. Durbin defeated Al Salvi (R) 54% to 37% in the general election. 

In his four subsequent re-election bids, Durbin won by 22 percentage points in 2002, 39 percentage points in 2008, 11 percentage points in 2014, and 16 percentage points in 2020.

As of April 23, 2025, independent race forecasters The Cook Political Report and Inside Elections rated the 2026 general election as Solid Democratic. Sabato’s Crystal Ball rated it Safe Democratic.

Since 2005, Durbin has served as Senate Democratic whip, the second-highest position among Democratic leadership in the chamber. According to Politico’s Shia Kapos, “Many in the party have eyed Durbin’s retirement as a prime opportunity to elevate a younger voice into the senior ranks.”

In addition to his duties as whip, Durbin has served as either the chair or ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee since 2021. During President Joe Biden’s (D) administration, Durbin—as the committee chair—oversaw confirmation hearings for 235 Article III judges. The 235 judicial confirmations are the 7th-most by an administration since 1901.

So far, 12 members of the U.S. Congress—five senators and seven representatives—have announced they will not seek re-election to their current seats in 2026.

All five senators not seeking re-election—Durbin, Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), and Gary Peters (D-Mich.)—are retiring from public office.

Compared to the last four election cycles, there were two retirement announcements at this point in 2024, five in 2022, three in 2020, and none in 2018.

Between January 2011 and April 2025, Ballotpedia followed 359 announcements from Senate and House members who announced they would not seek re-election. January had seen the highest number of announcements of any month at 69. The fewest announcements—12—happened in June.