‘I think it was the right thing to pass the torch’: Durbin talks about retirement from Congress

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — Illinois Senator Dick Durbin spent more than half of his life serving in Congress, but he said he’s ready to move along to retirement.

On Thursday, he reflected on his career in Congress and the current political climate, all while standing in the same place he launched his first campaign for Senate — his backyard in Springfield.

He addressed reporters for the first since his retirement announcement. Durbin said while he feels fit to represent the state today at 80 years old, he has to look ahead eight years: two years on the campaign trail and six years in office. 

“I didn’t think at this point it was the right thing to do,” Durbin said. “I think it is the right thing to pass the torch on to another generation.”

Durbin’s retirement announcement kicked off a mad dash to replace him. Durbin himself said he has had many conversations with people interested in the job. 

Illinois Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton announced she will run for his seat Thursday. She was the first to announce her candidacy, but others are expected to do the same, too. 

Durbin said he will also not endorse any candidate to replace him. He did give advice to candidates choosing to run for his seat: campaign in the entire state.

“Discover downstate if you don’t know it,” he said. “Discover the suburbs and the surrounding counties. Discover Chicago and these wards and precincts. That’s been one of the real blessings of this job.”

Durbin also reflected on his time, including passing legislation to ban smoking on airplanes and public transportation. Durbin’s wife, Loretta, worked for the American Lung Association.

“Getting things done to make to a difference in the lives of people I represent makes all the difference in the world,” the senator said.

He also was grateful for serving alongside members of Congress who have made American history like Ted Kennedy and John McCain.

Now with an end date in sight, Illinois’ senior senator said he will lobby his Republican colleagues to stand up against Trump’s administration, including his tariffs and trade policy.

“I’m gonna beg them to stand up and fight with us to protect the constitutional authority of the United States Senate,” Durbin added. “We can’t give this away… In an emergency situation, [the Constitution] would delegate [trade] to the president. This president is declaring an emergency that doesn’t exist.”

He also said he isn’t giving up on the DREAM Act. He wants to pass the bill that would protect children and young adults with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival status before he leaves in early 2027. He first introduced the bill in 2001.

“These are innocent kids who came to the United States as infants and toddlers; their parents made the decision to cross the border, they didn’t,” Durbin added. “They grew up here and did everything right, pledged allegiance to the flag in their classrooms every morning, thought they were part of America and learned when they were 13 or 14 that they’re undocumented.”

“Now this president wants to deport them if he can,” he added. “I hope he doesn’t get by with that; I’m going to fight him.”