Durbin's "Long Goodbye"
Senator Dick Durbin, joined by his wife, Loretta, speak to media in the backyard of their Springfield home Thursday.
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Father Time remains undefeated.
Senator Dick Durbin met with reporters in the backyard of his Washington Park-area home in Springfield Thursday to discuss his decision not to seek re-election.
“I’ve done this my way, making decisions based on family needs and personal needs, and what I thought would serve our state well,” Durbin said.
But, after 42 years in Washington, 29 years in the Senate, and at 80 years old, Durbin said he knows it’s time to move on.
“I love this job,” Durbin said. “But I also know there comes a point in your career when the torch is passed.”
He said he doesn’t believe age has gotten in the way of his job.
“I’m 80 years old. I feel good and I’m healthy and go to work like I’m supposed to, and travel back and forth to Washington every week,” he said. “But I had to project forward. The campaign is going to last two years, and then you’re going to serve six years. Are you ready to make an eight-year commitment? That’s the truth and the reality of the United States Senate.”
While the chaos of the Trump administration and environment in Washington appears to be a reason why people don’t want to be in the capital, Durbin found fighting Trump as a motivation to stay in office.
“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 said he won’t endorse a successor unless there is an “extreme case” and said he plans to finish out his term through January, 2027.
“It will be a long goodbye,” he said.
