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.

Notes

References

Other websites

 United States Senator Dick Durbin official U.S. Senate site
 Dick Durbin, U.S. Senator official campaign site

Category:1944 births
Category:Living people
Category:Democratic Party (United States) politicians
Category:United States representatives from Illinois
Category:United States senators from Illinois
Category:People from East St. Louis, Illinois
Category:20th-century American politicians
Category:21st-century American politicians
Category:Politicians from Springfield, Illinois
Category:Lawyers from Illinois