Dick Durbin

**Richard Joseph "Dick" Durbin** (born November 21, 1944) is the senior United States Senator from Illinois. He is also the Senate Minority Whip, the second highest position in the Democratic Party leadership in the Senate. He is the longest-serving Senate party whip in U.S. history.

## Political career

Working in state legal counsel throughout the 1970s, he made an unsuccessful run for Lieutenant Governor of Illinois in 1978. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1982, representing the Springfield-based 20th congressional district.

In 1996, he won election to the U.S. Senate by an unexpected 15 points. He became the Senate Democratic Whip in 2005. From January 3, 2007 to January 3, 2015, he was the Senate Majority Whip because his party had the majority.

Durbin is the only the fifth United States senator from Illinois to serve the position of United States Senate Minority Whip.

In 2019, Durbin co-signed a Senate resolution affirming support for a two-state solution and opposition to a proposed Israeli annexation of the West Bank. In November 2023, Durbin was the first U.S. senator to call for a ceasefire in the Gaza war.

In April 2025, Durbin announced he would not seek reelection in 2026.

## Personal life

Durbin was born on November 21, 1944 in East St. Louis, Illinois. He graduated from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and Georgetown University Law Center. Durbin is married to Loretta Schaefer. They had three children. In 2008, their daughter died from heart problems.

## Other websites

- United States Senator Dick Durbin _official U.S. Senate site_
- Dick Durbin, U.S. Senator _official campaign site_

## Infobox (officeholder)

- **embed**: yes
- **office1**: Senate Minority Whip
- **leader1**: Chuck Schumer
- **term start1**: January 3, 2025
- **predecessor1**: John Thune
- **leader2**: Harry Reid
Chuck Schumer
- **term start2**: January 3, 2015
- **term end2**: January 20, 2021
- **predecessor2**: John Cornyn
- **successor2**: John Thune
- **leader3**: Harry Reid
- **term start3**: January 3, 2005
- **term end3**: January 3, 2007
- **predecessor3**: Harry Reid
- **successor3**: Trent Lott
- **office4**: Ranking Member of the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Senate Judiciary Committee
- **term start4**: January 3, 2025
- **predecessor4**: Lindsey Graham
- **office5**: Senate Majority Whip
- **leader5**: Chuck Schumer
- **term start5**: January 20, 2021
- **term end5**: January 3, 2025
- **predecessor5**: John Thune
- **successor5**: John Barrasso
- **leader6**: Harry Reid
- **term start6**: January 3, 2007
- **term end6**: January 3, 2015
- **predecessor6**: Mitch McConnell
- **successor6**: John Cornyn
- **office7**: Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee
- **term start7**: February 3, 2021
- **term end7**: January 3, 2025
- **predecessor7**: Lindsey Graham
- **successor7**: Chuck Grassley


## Infobox (officeholder)

- **name**: Dick Durbin
- **image**: Dick Durbin 117th Congress portrait (1) (crop).jpeg
- **caption**: Official portrait, 2022
- **jr/sr**: United States Senator
- **state**: Illinois
- **alongside**: Tammy Duckworth
- **term start**: January 3, 1997
- **predecessor**: Paul Simon (politician), Paul Simon
- **state8**: Illinois
- **term start8**: January 3, 1983
- **term end8**: January 3, 1997
- **predecessor8**: Paul Findley
- **successor8**: John Shimkus
- **birth name**: Richard Joseph Durbin
- **birth place**: East St. Louis, Illinois, U.S.
- **residence**: Springfield, Illinois, U.S.
- **party**: Democratic Party (United States), Democratic
- **children**: 3
- **education**: Georgetown University (Bachelor of Science, BS, Juris Doctor, JD)
- **signature**: Dick Durbin Signature.svg