Illinois Democratic Senate nominee?
$1.5M
MAR 18, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleU.S. Senator
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyLiberal Democrat
Age81 years old (Nov 21, 1944)
GenderMale
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LocationIllinois
BackgroundAttorney
EducationGeorgetown University, School of Foreign Service (B.S., 1966)
Notable personal detailsRichard J. “Dick” Durbin is an American politician and attorney who has served as the senior United States senator from Illinois since 1997, after previously serving in the U.S. House of Representatives. He has held Senate Democratic leadership roles including Senate Majority Whip and has chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee. In April 2025, he announced he would not seek reelection in 2026.
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Positions
Economy & Taxes
Supports policies to raise taxes on the wealthiest and limit tax avoidance while expanding tax benefits for working families (for example, expanding the Child Tax Credit). Has sponsored legislation to ensure very high earners pay a minimum effective tax rate and pushed back against large corporate and billionaire tax cuts.
Healthcare
Supports strengthening and expanding the Affordable Care Act and creating government options to increase access and affordability, including legislation to create a public option and to make Medicare available to more people. Advocates extending enhanced ACA premium tax credits and other measures to keep insurance affordable for millions of Americans.
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Immigration & Border
Supports a pathway to citizenship and expanded legal protections for Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status recipients, farm and essential workers; opposes mass deportations and calls for a secure but compassionate immigration system with protections for asylum access and measures to process asylum seekers humanely.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Supports protecting and restoring reproductive rights, condemns the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, and urges federal legislation to enshrine abortion access (including support for the Women’s Health Protection Act). Advocates against restrictive state bans and highlights harms to patients and providers from post‑Dobbs restrictions.
Climate & Energy
Supports substantial federal investment in clean energy and climate resilience, advocates carbon pricing mechanisms and transition assistance for affected workers and communities, and sponsors legislation to fund emissions reductions and climate-adaptive projects.
Public Safety & Guns
Dick Durbin supports stronger federal gun restrictions including an assault weapons ban, expanded universal background checks, and laws that enable temporary removal of firearms from high-risk individuals (red flag laws). He has sponsored and backed legislation and regulatory actions to close loopholes in background checks and curb firearm conversion devices and trafficking. Durbin supported the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act and has led committee activity and floor efforts to advance additional gun-safety measures.
News
Dick Durbin is in the news because he is retiring, leaving his Illinois U.S. Senate seat open. The biggest recent development is that Juliana Stratton won the Democratic primary to replace him and will be the party’s nominee in the November race. The primary was competitive and heavily contested, with Raja Krishnamoorthi and Robin Kelly among the main rivals.
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Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 20262022
2024
2026
LatestCycle 2022
Cycle 2024
Cycle 2026
Source: FEC
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls
- Endorsements