Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) is endorsing Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton (D) in the Democratic primary to replace retiring Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) in Illinois. “At this perilous moment in

Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton announced she will run for U.S. Senate next year on Thursday morning. If she wins the Democratic primary and the subsequent general election, Stratton would be the second Black woman elected to represent Illinois in the Senate.

Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin (D) has announced he will not seek re-election for a sixth term. Durbin, now 80, was first elected to the U.S. House in 1982, and succeeded Paul Simon in the Senate in 1996.

While the Illinois Senate seat is likely to stay in Democratic hands given the state's leftward tilt, Durbin is the fourth Senate Democrat to announce he would not be running for re-election in 2026. New contenders now stand a chance at an open seat in 2026 in Illinois, Minnesota, New Hampshire and Michigan.

Senator Dick Durbin will not seek re-election in 2026, marking the end of a notable career in Illinois politics.

The second-ranking Senate Democrat will retire after his decadeslong career representing Illinois in Congress.

Illinois Senator Dick Durbin announced Wednesday morning he is retiring and will not run for reelection in 2026.

Illinois lawmakers are weighing in on federal legislation that would require proof of citizenship for voter registration.

Schakowsky, a Democrat who has represented a swath of the North Shore since 1999, confirmed to Politico that she expects to announce her retirement on May 5.