XPost: alt.fan.rush-limbaugh, talk.politics.guns, sac.politics
XPost: alt.society.liberalism, alt.politics.democrats.senate
On 4/23/2025 4:57 PM, H Karlsen wrote:
Dick Durbin, the longtime second-ranking Democrat in the Senate,
announced plans to retire at the end of next year, setting off a
succession scramble to take his powerful leadership spot in the chamber
and a likely crowded primary in Illinois for the seat.
“The decision of whether to run for re-election has not been easy. I
truly love the job of being a United States Senator. But in my heart, I
know it’s time to pass the torch,” Durbin announced Wednesday. “So, I am
announcing today that I will not be seeking re-election at the end of my term.”
Durbin, 80, had long been expected to step aside, having served in the chamber since 1996 and as the Senate Democratic whip since 2005, a
position that has given him influence with the party’s leader as the
chief deputy for the late Harry Reid and currently with Senate
Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer. Durbin becomes the fourth Senate
Democrat to announce plans to retire rather than run for reelection next year.
Durbin’s retirement decision opens up a number of key positions,
including on the Senate Judiciary Committee where he served as chairman
in the last Congress, having presided over the confirmation of Ketanji
Brown Jackson, the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court, and
where he has long championed legislation to help the undocumented
migrants brought to the US as children known as Dreamers.
Behind the scenes in Illinois, a number of Democrats had been preparing
for a potential run, building their war chests in advance of what could
be a competitive Democratic primary in the blue state. Among those seen
as potential candidates: Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi, Robin Kelly and
Lauren Underwood and Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton.
And in the Senate, the race to replace Durbin will set off a leadership scramble that won’t be formalized until after next year’s midterms and through a secret ballot of Democratic senators. There are several
Democrats who could seek the whip position, setting them up to be a
potential successor to Schumer.
Those viewed as potential candidates include Sens. Brian Schatz, Amy Klobuchar and Patty Murray. But others could make their interests known.
Schumer thanked Durbin in a statement following his announcement, saying
that “he’s been a trusted partner, one of the most respected voices in the Senate for decades, my dear friend, and, of course, my former roommate.”
CNN’s Morgan Rimmer contributed to this report.
https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/23/politics/dick-durbin-senate-retirement/ind ex.html
Can he take a couple hundred more with him?
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