Leaving office January 3, 2027.Did not run for re-election in 2026. This page switches to the former-officeholder layout when the term ends.
Richard J. Durbin
Photo: Government Publishing Office, Public domain
DemocratIn office until January 3, 2027

Richard J. Durbin

U.S. Senator from Illinois since 1997. Did not run for re-election in 2026; leaves office in January 2027.

U.S. Senator from IllinoisBorn 1944

In office
29 yrs
Since 1997
Bills became law
0
139 sponsored, 119th Congress
Votes missed
2.7%
Chamber median 2.1%
With party
93%
On votes splitting the parties
Last margin
+16.1
Won 2020

Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Nov 7, 2026, 3:00 PM ET

Committees

119th Congress.

  • Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and ForestryCommodities, Derivatives, Risk Management, and TradeLivestock, Dairy, Poultry, and Food Safety
  • Senate Committee on AppropriationsDepartment of DefenseEnergy and Water DevelopmentFinancial Services and General GovernmentDepartments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related AgenciesState, Foreign Operations, and Related ProgramsTransportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies
  • Senate Committee on the Judiciary · Ranking MemberCrime and Counterterrorism · Ranking Member

Source: congress-legislators committeesUpdated Nov 7, 2026, 3:00 PM ET

Legislation

119th Congress · 139 sponsored · 0 became law

No bills in this list for the 119th Congress.

Source: Congress.gov billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 3:27 PM ET

Voting record

119th Congress · placement by roll-call votes

Where Durbin sits in the U.S. Senate

Durbin is closer to the center than 76% of the chamber's Democrats.

Dem. medianRep. medianDurbinMore liberalMore conservative

Closest: Chris Coons, Amy Klobuchar, Catherine Cortez Masto

Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 5:06 PM ET

With Durbin’s party

  • Votes with the chamber's Democrats93%
  • Cosponsorships of the other party's bills23%

Black tick: the average of Democrats in the U.S. Senate.

Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships

Key votes

Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Durbin’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Democrats.

Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls

Career

Offices held, and every time Durbin was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.

Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)

Elections

Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.

YearRaceResultMargin
2020U.S. Senate, IllinoisWonD+16.1
2014U.S. Senate, IllinoisWonD+10.9
2008U.S. Senate, IllinoisWonD+39.3
2002U.S. Senate, IllinoisWonD+22.3
1996U.S. Senate, IllinoisWonD+15.4
1994U.S. House, IL-20WonD+9.7
1992U.S. House, IL-20WonD+13.0
1990U.S. House, IL-20WonD+32.4

Source: 99chambers results archive

Seats Durbin has held

Source: 99chambers results archive

Who Durbin has run against

  • Mark C. Curran Jr. (R) · 2020 general, won
  • James D. "jim" Oberweis (R) · 2014 general, won
  • Steve Sauerberg (R) · 2008 general, won
  • Jim Durkin (R) · 2002 general, won
  • Al Salvi (R) · 1996 general, won
  • Bill Owens (R) · 1994 general, won

Source: 99chambers results archive

How we know Durbin

One person, matched across every source we use.

Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Nov 7, 2026, 3:00 PM ET