Richard J. Durbin
U.S. Senator from Illinois since 1997. Did not run for re-election in 2026; leaves office in January 2027. Ran in 12 elections between 1982 and 2020, winning 12.
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
- Elections
- 12
- 1982–2020
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
Government Operations and Politics · In committee Sep 2026
Public Lands and Natural Resources · In committee Jul 2026
Source: Congress.gov billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 3:27 PM ET
Voting record
Where Durbin sits in the U.S. Senate
Durbin is closer to the center than 76% of the chamber's Democrats.
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.
| Date | Bill | Durbin | Dem. majority | Rep. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 5, 2026 | S 2: Secure America Act | No | No | Yes | Passed 52–47 |
| Apr 16, 2026 | HJRES 140: Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code,… | No | No | Yes | Passed 50–49 |
| Feb 12, 2026 | HJRES 142: Disapproving the action of the District of Columbia Council in approving the D.C.… | No | No | Yes | Passed 49–47 |
| Jan 30, 2026 | HR 7148: Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 | Yes | No | Yes | Passed 71–29 |
| Dec 4, 2025 | HJRES 131: Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code,… | No | No | Yes | Passed 49–45 |
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.
| Year | Race | Result | Margin | Seat | +/− |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | U.S. Senate, Illinois | Won | D+16.1 | D+17.3 | −1.2 |
| 2014 | U.S. Senate, Illinois | Won | D+10.9 | D+17.2 | −6.3 |
| 2008 | U.S. Senate, Illinois | Won | D+39.3 | D+25.5 | +13.8 |
| 2002 | U.S. Senate, Illinois | Won | D+22.3 | D+12.4 | +9.9 |
| 1996 | U.S. Senate, Illinois | Won | D+15.4 | D+19.2 | −3.8 |
| 1994 | U.S. House, IL-20 | Won | D+9.7 | — | — |
| 1992 | U.S. House, IL-20 | Won | D+13.0 | — | — |
| 1990 | U.S. House, IL-20 | Won | D+32.4 | — | — |
| 1988 | U.S. House, IL-20 | Won | D+37.7 | — | — |
| 1986 | U.S. House, IL-20 | Won | D+36.2 | — | — |
| 1984 | U.S. House, IL-20 | Won | D+22.5 | — | — |
| 1982 | U.S. House, IL-20 | Won | D+0.7 | — | — |
Source: 99chambers results archive
Campaign money, 2019–20
- Raised
- $7.3M
- Spent
- $8.3M
- Cash
- $1.1M
Source: FEC filings through Dec 31, 2020Updated Oct 8, 2026, 10:37 AM ET
Seats Durbin has held
- U.S. Senate, Illinois · 1997–2027
- U.S. House, IL-20 · 1983–1997
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Durbin has run against
- Mark C. Curran Jr. (R) · 2020 election, won
- James D. "jim" Oberweis (R) · 2014 election, won
- Steve Sauerberg (R) · 2008 election, won
- Jim Durkin (R) · 2002 election, won
- Al Salvi (R) · 1996 election, won
- Bill Owens (R) · 1994 election, won
- John Shimkus (R) · 1992 election, won
- Paul Jurgens (R) · 1990 election, won
Source: 99chambers results archive
In the polls
Included in 26 polls; Durbin’s best result was 62% (U.S. Senate in Illinois, 2008).
Durbin’s polls in the database →How we know Durbin
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Bioguide D000563
- FEC S6IL00151
- Wikidata Q434804
- Ballotpedia Dick Durbin
- Vote Smart 26847
- GovTrack 300038
- OpenSecrets N00004981
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Nov 7, 2026, 3:00 PM ET