The gloves are off in one of the most competitive Senate primary races Illinois has seen in decades.
Expect Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi and Rep. Lauren Underwood to launch bids within hours and days of Sen. Dick Durbin’s announcement that he will not seek reelection in the Senate, a seat he has held since winning his first term in 1996.
In an Illinois exclusive interview with WBEZ on Tuesday, Durbin said more than a dozen people have expressed interest in his seat.
“There are at least a dozen names that I think are serious,” Durbin said. “…There is a larger number that has approached me and said they might be interested in it so I don’t want to rule anyone in or out at this point.”
U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly and State Treasurer Michael Frerichs are also expected to jump into the race. Frerichs and Underwood have both conducted polling. And former Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who is busy spreading the word on the failures of the Democratic Party, has also said he would be open to run for a local race, although he’s got his eye on the governor’s race should Gov. JB Pritzker opt out of a third term.
Stratton and Krishnamoorthi have treated Durbin’s pending announcement delicately — heaping public praise on the senator while playing coy about their runs. The two are among those who have spoken to Durbin personally. Durbin said he took calls from potential candidates to mean they would be seeking his endorsement.
“Yes. I would say they may not have said it in so many words, but the fact that they would call me first and sit down and talk to me is an indication to me that they at least didn’t want my opposition,” Durbin said.
Former U.S. Sen. Paul Simon endorsed Durbin as his successor in 1996 — and the big question is whether Durbin will do the same. Simon was the state’s most popular Democratic officeholder at the time of his endorsement. And Durbin has heightened his popularity with Democrats by fighting back against President Donald Trump. An endorsement from the outgoing senator could play a huge role in the race and bolster cash and endorsements from prominent unions, politicians and Democratic power players.
For now, Durbin said he’s not ready to choose his successor.
“I don’t plan to get involved in the Democratic primary if there is one for the United States Senate. Let the voters decide,” Durbin said. “But I’m not going to rule out the possibility if something goes in a direction that I think is serious then I need to address it. But the starting point clearly, and I hope the end point as well, is that these candidates need to stand up for themselves.”
Durbin’s endorsements aren’t formulaic. He endorses when he thinks it’s the right thing to do, and that has included support for people who ultimately lost their bids, including former mayoral contender Paul Vallas and most recently, Aurora mayoral candidate Ted Mesiacos. It would be a calculated, informed decision for Durbin, and candidates’ political leanings and past votes could play a factor.
For Stratton, the question will be whether she can compete with Krishnamoorthi’s $19 million and counting campaign war chest — and whether Pritzker will pour in a little or a lot to help support her bid. Should she lose the Senate bid, Stratton is also in a position to run for governor in the future, and she would make history as the first Black governor of Illinois should she win.
There’s a gigantic wrinkle in some of these bids. Kelly, Krishnamoorthi and Underwood could lose their House seats if they go all in on the Senate race and lose. For now, the three could circulate petitions for both posts, and make a game-time decision before a deadline later this year. With polling in full force, they would be able to decide whether to hold onto their House seats.
The decision is a calculated risk for Krishnamoorthi, Kelly and Underwood, who could set in motion competitive races in their districts. Underwood, 38, was elected to House leadership in 2022 and although her 14th congressional district became more blue in the latest redistricting map, she has helped to hold down a seat at a time when Democrats in the House have much to lose and everything to gain.
Beyond Stratton and members of Congress, there’s also a bench of potential contenders in the Illinois General Assembly. In the interview, Durbin called elected officials a “starting point,” but also urged others to explore a run.
“There are so many other community leaders that I’ve worked with around the state that should seriously think about this,” Durbin said. “They’re not in elective office now, but they could be excellent choices to be in elected office. Some of them expressed an interest and when the announcement is made, I’m sure there will be more.”
U.S. Rep. Dick Durbin celebrates at his Election Night party at the Drake Hotel after announcing victory in his Democratic primary campaign for U.S. Senate, March 19, 1996.
|
Richard A. Chapman/Sun-Times
U.S. Rep. Dick Durbin, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, shakes hands with parade attendees during the South Side Irish Parade along South Western Avenue, March 17, 1996.
|
Sun-Times file photo
U.S. Senate Democratic candidate Dick Durbin takes a break from greeting potential voters on the last day of the campaign to eat at Manny’s Restaurant, at 1141 S. Jefferson St., with U.S. Sen. Carol Mosely-Braun to his right and U.S. Sen. Paul Simon across from him, March 18, 1996. Both Simon and Mosely-Braun endorsed Durbin.
|
Robert A. Davis/Sun-Times
U.S. Senate Democratic candidate Dick Durbin greets potential voters while campaigning at Manny’s Restaurant, at 1141 S. Jefferson St., on the last day of his campaign, March 18, 1996.
|
Robert A. Davis/Sun-Times
(From left) U.S. Senate Democratic candidate Dick Durbin and U.S. Sens. Paul Simon and Carol Mosely-Braun share a laugh with a potential voter while Durbin campaigns at Manny’s Restaurant, at 1141 S. Jefferson St., on the last day of the campaign, March 18, 1996.
|
Robert A. Davis/Sun-Times
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Dick Durbin sits with his son Paul, left, his wife Loretta and his daughter Jennifer, right, to watch primary election returns in his hotel suite at the Drake Hotel in Chicago, March 19, 1996.
|
Richard A. Chapman/Sun-Times
U.S. Senate Democratic hopeful Dick Durbin engages in relaxed conversation as reporters set up for the start of press conference featuring Sen. Bob Kerrey of Nebraska, who came to Chicago Monday to illustrate the importance of this race, March 25, 1996.
|
Rich Hein/Sun-Times
U.S. Rep. Dick Durbin looks on as Mayor Richard M. Daley and United States Army Secretary Louis Caldera discuss a funding partnership to rebuild eight miles of Lake Michigan’s crumbling shoreline at 31st Street Beach, July 6, 1996.
|
Robert A. Davis/Sun-Times
U.S. Sens. Carol Mosely Braun and Paul Simon look on as Democratic U.S. Sen. candidate Dick Durbin shakes hands with President Bill Clinton after Clinton’s speech at a Durbin fundraiser at the Sheraton Hotel, July 23, 1996.
|
Jon Sall/Sun-Times
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Dick Durbin speaks to reporters in the van en route to the Fiesta Day parade in Sterling, Sept. 14, 1996.
|
Ellen Domke/Sun-Times
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Dick Durbin campaigns in the Galena area, Sept. 14, 1996.
|
Ellen Domke/Sun-Times
Hillary Rodham Clinton gives a welcome wave at the Chicago Hilton and Towers as Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Dick Durbin applauds next to her, Oct. 14, 1996.
|
Pablo Martinez Monsivais/Sun-Times
As his wife Loretta looks on, Dick Durbin celebrates at his Election Night party after defeating Republican Al Salvi in the U.S. Senate race, Nov. 5, 1996.
|
Jon Sall/Sun-Times
Dick Durbin celebrates with his wife Loretta at his Election Night party after defeating Republican Al Salvi in the U.S. Senate race, Nov. 5, 1996.
|
Jon Sall/Sun-Times
On the morning of the General Election, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin campaigns with Dorothy Brown, candidate for clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, at the CTA’s 95th Street Station, Nov. 6, 2000.
|
John H. White/Sun-Times
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin speaks before a Chanukah Menorah Lighting ceremony in Daley Plaza in the Loop, Dec. 9, 2001.
|
Al Podgorski/Sun-Times
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin stands in front of the “Chicago Tribute to Freedom” sculpture near the north entrance of Soldier Field, Dec. 3, 2004.
|
Scott Stewart/Sun-Times
Mayor Daley, left, talks with Rev. Jesse Jackson and U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin during the 14th Annual PUSH Excel Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship breakfast at the Chicago Hilton and Towers, Monday, Jan. 19, 2004.
|
Jean Lachat/Sun-Times
U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Barack Obama host a town hall meeting with U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson at Wright College on the Northwest Side, Friday, May 20, 2005.
|
Richard A. Chapman/Sun-Times
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and U.S. Sen. Barack Obama attend a rally for Tammy Duckworth for Congress at Diplomat West in Elmhurst, Nov. 6, 2006.
|
Al Podgorski/Sun-Times
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, Des Plaines Mayor Tony Arredia and Illinois state Sen. Susan Garrett walk through flooded Big Bend Street to assess the flood damage, Aug. 25, 2007.
|
Al Podgorski/Sun-Times
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin speaks to students at Two Rivers Head Start in Aurora, Wednesday, March 23, 2011.
|
Sun-Times file photo
U.S. Senators Mark Kirk (R-IL), left, and Dick Durbin (D-IL) listen to panelists during the Nuclear Safety Forum, held at the Dirksen Federal Building, Friday, March 25, 2011.
|
John J. Kim/Sun-Times
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin greets Chicago firefighter Ed Koranda and his son Tristan, who tells Durbin he is three years old, Sunday, September 11, 2011 outside St. Rita of Cascia Church, during an interfaith ceremony to mark a day of remembrance and solidarity on the 10th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks.
|
Jean Lachat/Sun-Times
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, left, and Mayor Richard M. Daley walk the St. Patrick’s Day Parade route on South Columbus Drive, Saturday, March 12, 2011.
|
John J. Kim/Sun-Times
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle talk during a tour of the Chicago Botanic Garden, Friday, Oct. 28, 2011.
|
Sun-Times file photo
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and Governor Pat Quinn interact during an announcement about investing in Chicago’s mass transit infrastructure at Mayne Stage, Friday, April 27, 2012.
|
John H. White/Sun-Times
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), Governor Pat Quinn and Mayor Rahm Emanuel watch as President Obama gives his speech at Auditorium at Northwestern University, Thursday, October 2, 2014.
|
Chandler West/For the Sun-Times
Mayor Lori Lightfoot, former Second Lady of the United States Jill Biden and Dick Durbin enter a press conference at the Union League Club, where Lightfoot, Durbin and other members of the Illinois congressional delegation would endorse former Vice President Joe Biden for president, Friday afternoon, March 6, 2020.
|
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin greets protesters in Union Park who gathered to call for tighter gun control laws in a March for Our Lives rally, Saturday, March 24, 2018.
|
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Mayor Lori Lightfoot chats with U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin during the Rainbow PUSH Coalition’s 30th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Breakfast at the Hyatt Regency Chicago, Monday morning, Jan. 20, 2020.
|
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
J.B. Pritzker receives endorsements from Illinois Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth at the Theatre on the Lake in Chicago, Friday, December 8, 2017.
|
Kevin Tanaka/For the Sun Times
Senator Dick Durbin joins protesters at the Westside interfaith peace march in North Lawndale on June 12, 2020. Protesters stopped at sites that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. visited.
|
Pat Nabong/Sun-Times
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin speaks to Michelle Martin, discussing how the lack of mail has affected her and others in her community during a news conference about problems at the United States Postal Service at Federal Plaza in the Loop, Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021.
|
Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin condemns Russian President Vladimir Putin and call for continued support for Ukraine during a rallytw outside of the Water Tower Place in Gold Coast, Sunday, March 27, 2022.
|
Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin laughs as an attendee takes pictures during a press conference at the MxD headquarters in the Goose Island neighborhood, Thursday morning, April 22, 2022. Officials announced the grand opening of the Department of Defense’s fifth Defense Innovation Unit office, which is housed at the Discovery Partners Institute.
|
Pat Nabong/Sun-Times
Sen. Tammy Duckworth, Sen. Dick Durbin, and Mayor Brandon Johnson listen as Anna-Lisa Castle, associate director for water policy at Elevate, speaks to reporters during a news conference announcing a $336 million EPA Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act loan to the City of Chicago to help remove old lead service lines, Friday, Nov. 3, 2023.
|
| Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin sings the national anthem with around 1000 mourners during a vigil to commemorate the October 7th attacks on Israel in the northwestern suburbs, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024.
|
Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times
Donna Pearson-Simmons watches as U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin receives an artwork from her grandson Keant’e, 7, whose mother, Erica Reed, was fatally shot in May 2023, during Chicago Survivors’ annual back-to-school block party outside City of Praise Church in Chicago Lawn, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024.
|
Pat Nabong/Sun-Times
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton speak with reporters as supporters watch results trickle in on Election Night at the Democratic Party of Illinois watch party for Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris at Joy District in River North, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.
|
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin speaks to volunteers after a news conference at food pantry Nourishing Hope in West Town, where he discussed the effects of President Donald Trump’s administration’s funding cuts at the U.S. Department of Agriculture on food security, Friday, March 28, 2025.
|
Pat Nabong/Sun-Times
Top Feeds
via Politics https://ift.tt/jSnKzef
April 23, 2025 at 10:31AM
Illinois Delivered 