Dick Durbin, second-ranked Senate Democrat, says he’s retiring after five terms: ‘It’s time to pass the torch’

WASHINGTON — Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) announced Wednesday that he will not activity re-election successful 2026, saying he would “pass nan torch” to up-and-coming leaders successful his party.

The no. 2 Democrat successful nan Senate posted a video connection connected X explaining his determination to measurement down aft having served 5 position — “longer than anyone elected to nan Senate” successful Illinois’ history.

“The determination of whether to tally for re-election has not been easy. I genuinely emotion nan occupation of being a United States senator,” Durbin said. “But successful my heart, I cognize it’s clip to walk nan torch.”

AP

The 80-year-old added that “a beardown Democratic bench” would beryllium “ready to serve” successful his spot — without naming immoderate contiguous successors — and touted his support for chap Illinois Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth to switch him arsenic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s second-in-command.

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