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Illinois Senator, Dick Durbin, has announced that he will not seek re-election in 2026 and will retire after serving for over four decades in Congress.
Durbin made the announcement in a video on Wednesday, adding that it’s time to pass the torch.
“In my heart, I know it’s time to pass the torch,” Durbin said.
“The threats to our democracy and way of life are real, and I can assure you that I will do everything in my power to fight for Illinois and the future of our country every day of my remaining time in the Senate.”
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Durbin has served in the Senate since 1997 and has won re-election to the Senate four times.
The 80-year-old has spent 44 years in Congress, including his time in the House of Representatives.
His retirement will set up a contentious race among Illinois Democrats vying to fill the seat.
In other news, United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio has announced an overhaul of the State Department, which he said stifles creativity, lacks accountability, and engages in hostility to American interests.
The major shake-up, starting on Tuesday, will reportedly affect 132 domestic offices, 700 positions in Washington, DC, and offices focused on war crimes and global conflict.
Rubio noted that the Department has long struggled to perform basic diplomatic functions, while its size and cost to the American taxpayer have ballooned over the past fifteen years
