Richard J. “Dick” Durbin was born in 1944 in East St. Louis, Illinois. After law school at Georgetown, he worked in state government and then served in the U.S. House for 14 years before winning a Senate seat in 1996. He’s been in the Senate ever since — one of the longest-serving Democrats in chamber leadership.
Durbin has been Senate Democratic Whip (the #2 Democrat) since 2005, and chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee from 2021–2025. He’s been central to fights over court appointments, voting rights, ethics rules for justices, and criminal justice reform.
Policy-wise, he’s a pragmatic progressive: strong on immigration reform (he’s the original sponsor of the DREAM Act), public health funding, tobacco control, consumer protection, and prescription drug pricing oversight. He also pushed early bans on smoking in airplanes and funding for HIV/AIDS and organ donation programs.
In April 2025, Durbin said he will retire when his term ends in January 2027, framing it as time to “pass the torch” after decades shaping Democratic strategy in the Senate.
Establishment Democrat
Achievements
- Senate Democratic Whip since 2005; longtime leadership voice for national Democratic strategy
- Chaired Senate Judiciary Committee (2021–2025), pressing for ethics standards and court oversight
- Sponsor of the DREAM Act, leading the push for protections for undocumented youth
- Architect of major public health efforts (tobacco restrictions, AIDS funding, organ donation support)
- Aggressive on consumer protection and drug pricing oversight
Controversies
- Faced criticism for comments comparing U.S. detainee treatment at Guantanamo to historical war crimes
- Scrutiny over perceived conflicts of interest linked to his wife’s lobbying and federal funding asks
- Accused by Republicans of overreaching on judicial “ethics” reforms aimed at the Supreme Court
Top Donors
| Donor | Total | Individuals | PACs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Rogers LLP | $101,816 | $101,816 | $0 |
| Simmons Hanly Conroy | $80,508 | $80,508 | $0 |
| State of Illinois | $62,537 | $62,537 | $0 |
| Clifford Law Offices | $60,300 | $60,300 | $0 |
| Kirkland & Ellis | $54,653 | $54,653 | $0 |
Amounts shown reflect organization-linked giving; most funds listed here are from individual donors or aligned PACs.
Recent Elections
2006 Margin D +20.6%
2012 Margin D +18.1%
2018 Margin D +15.9%
2020 Margin D +16.0%