Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin’s long-anticipated announcement that he won’t seek reelection in 2026 has instantly kicked off three high-stakes Democratic succession fights, including a proxy race for who could ultimately become the Democratic leader.
In deep-blue Illinois, the Democratic primary for the Senate seat Durbin is vacating is widely expected to decide who wins the general election. This will be a heavily contested race with multiple House Democrats likely to jump in. More on that below.
There’s also the top Democratic spot on the Senate Judiciary Committee, which Durbin currently holds. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) would be the leading candidate to replace him there.
But the biggest job Durbin will hand off is his role as the No. 2 Senate Democrat. Durbin has held this position since 2005, making him the longest-serving whip in Senate history.
The whip list: Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) is considered the frontrunner to succeed Durbin and has long signaled his interest in the job. Schatz began making calls to his Democratic colleagues about the whip race shortly after Durbin’s announcement on Wednesday, according to senators who spoke with the Hawaii Democrat.
Schatz’s pitch, according to people who have spoken with him, is twofold — that 1) he’s already chief deputy whip, and 2) he’ll seek to utilize the talents of senators across the caucus on policy and messaging decisions.
However, Senate Democrats say it’ll likely be a contested race. We’re still 19 months out from any leadership elections. A lot can change. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) has privately expressed interest in running for the position, too, per multiple sources.
Beyond Schatz and Klobuchar, other Democrats to watch are Sens. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) — although he may be more focused on a White House bid — and Cory Booker (D-N.J.). But other aspirants could emerge.
The race to succeed Durbin isn’t happening in a vacuum either. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is coming off the most difficult stretch of his tenure as party leader. There’s increasing chatter about what will happen in 2028, when Schumer is up for reelection. Schumer will be 77 by that time and will have been in charge of the Senate Democratic Caucus for a dozen years.
Several Democrats tell us that regardless of whether Schumer runs again, they’re viewing next year’s whip race as a proxy for who should lead their caucus once the New York Democrat retires.
How they stack up: Schatz, 52, has moved up the leadership ranks since being appointed to the Senate in 2012 to replace the iconic Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii). Schatz has good relationships across the caucus and is seen as an effective messenger. But the question Schatz faces is whether that will be enough to ultimately become the Democratic whip — and potentially the leader.
Progressives slammed Schatz over his vote for the CR last month. As we noted, it was at least partially an effort by Schatz to demonstrate leadership qualities, showing he’s willing to take unpopular votes and shield his more vulnerable colleagues from any internal Democratic backlash.
With a seat on the Appropriations Committee — like Durbin — Schatz has helped steer billions of dollars in federal aid back home to Hawaii, including following the devastating Maui wildfires in August 2023.
The 64-year-old Klobuchar was first elected to the Senate in 2006. Klobuchar ran for president in 2020 but dropped out just before the Super Tuesday primaries and endorsed Joe Biden.
The first woman senator in Minnesota history, Klobuchar is the ranking Democrat on the Agriculture Committee. She’s also on the Judiciary Committee, where she has pushed antitrust legislation aimed at Big Tech companies.
Klobuchar is a member of the Democratic leadership currently, serving as chair of the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, the No. 3 position.
What’s next in Illinois: As we reported, ambitious Illinois Democrats have already been laying the groundwork for Senate campaigns well before Durbin announced his retirement.
The main contenders to succeed Durbin are Illinois Democratic Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi, Lauren Underwood and Robin Kelly, along with Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton.
An early poll of the field, commissioned by a pro-Underwood group, found Underwood and Krishnamoorthi leading the primary contest. But no one has officially jumped in yet, and it’s important to caution how early it is in the 2026 campaign cycle.
Krishnamoorthi’s gigantic war chest — he ended the quarter with $19 million on hand — makes him a potentially formidable candidate, while Underwood’s rapid rise in Democratic leadership is a strength. Stratton has reportedly been telling allies she enjoys Gov. JB Pritzker’s support.
Georgia Senate news: Majority Forward, the Senate Majority PAC allied organization, is launching a high-six-figure statewide ad buy on streaming and digital to boost vulnerable Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.). The ads hail Ossoff’s work on seniors’ issues, highlighting prescription drug pricing reform and his effort to stop Social Security office closures.
