Democratic U.S. Senator Dick Durbin announced his decision not to seek reelection next year, leading to a competitive intra-party contest to fill his seat in the Democratic-leaning state of Illinois.
Durbin, an 80-year-old 30-year veteran of the Senate, explained that while he loves the job of being a United States senator, he feels it is time to “pass the torch”.
The big picture: The retirement of Senator Durbin comes amidst a debate within the Democratic party about the direction to take in the upcoming midterm elections, where control of both chambers of Congress will be at stake.
- Republicans currently hold majorities in both the Senate and House of Representatives, but historical trends suggest that the incumbent president’s party tends to lose seats in Congress during midterm elections.
- Democrats face a challenging path to reclaim the Senate from the Republicans, who currently hold a 53-47 majority. They are defending four competitive seats, including some where popular incumbents have opted not to seek reelection, while Republicans are defending just three seats considered competitive by political analysts.
What we’re watching: Potential Democratic candidates vying for Durbin’s seat include U.S. Representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi and Lauren Underwood, as well as Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton.
- On the Republican side, candidates such as Doug Bennett and John Goodman have announced their candidacy for the Senate seat.
