IL Sen. Dick Durbin decides to not run for reelection, says he does not plan on any endorsements
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WLS) -- After serving more than four decades in Congress, and as a Senator since 1996, Dick Durbin will be retiring when his term ends.
From the back porch of his home where he launched his successful bid for Senate back in 1995, Durbin talked about his career and his decision to call it a congressional career when this term ends.
"I'm 80 years old," Durbin said. "All right, I feel good and strong and healthy and go to work, like I'm supposed to travel back and forth to Washington, every week. But I had to project forward. The campaign's going to last two years, and then you're going to serve six years."
Standing with his wife Loretta, Durbin said he has already heard from a number of would-be successors.
"I'm not planning on endorsing any particular candidate," he said. "I hope I don't have to, but I'm not ruling out the possibility in an extreme case, I just think it's up to the voters, the Democratic voters, to make this choice."
However, he advised any would-be successor to work the entire state.
He believes that strategy has been important during his tenure in the Senate.
When asked if President Donald Trump and the tension in Washington factor his decision to retire, he said:
"Well, it played against my decision. The madder I got about what Trump is doing to this country and to the Constitution, the more I wanted to serve and not step aside," Durbin said.
Durbin wearing a tie that says Obama '08, greeted supporters who joined him in his back yard, and said what has motivated him all these years is getting things done.
"I look back, for example, on something I did in the House of Representatives, it seemed almost inconsequential to ban smoking on airplanes. It ended up being a tipping point," the senator said.
While reflecting on the current state of politics, he recalled something his predecessor Paul Simon told him.
"He said, 'In 1994 there's too much meanness in politics.' Oh, Paul, if you can only see it today, you wouldn't believe what's going on. And millions of dollars are being spent to muddy people up and to destroy their reputation in the community."
Durbin says he will work hard until the end of his term.
Senator Durbin was heading back to Washington on Thursday night. Hethen plans to fly to Rome for Pope Francis' funeral which will be on Saturday.
RELATED | IL Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton announces senate run after Durbin declines to run for re-election
Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton launched her bid with a video that begins by attacking Donald Trump and Elon Musk saying they've made a mess in Washington.
Three members of congress are expected to announce their candidacies in the coming days including Raja Krishnamoorthi, Democratic 14th District Congresswoman Lauren Underwood and Congresswoman Robin Kelly.
Other possible contenders could include Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, State Treasurer Mike Frerichs and maybe even former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
