Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Dick Durbin speaks at a committee meeting in Chicago in October [U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee]

After months of anticipation, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill) announced he will not be running for reelection in 2026. The decision has far-reaching implications for Illinois’ politics. 

Durbin has represented Illinois in Washington since 1983, first serving as a U.S. Representative before joining the Senate in 1997. He’s been the Senate Democratic Whip since 2005.  

The decision will impact the political climate at the state and national level. For the Senate Democrats, they’ll have to replace their number two leader.  

But at the state level, the move can lead to a shakeup as members of the U.S. House, Illinois executive branch and Illinois General Assembly prepare to run for the seat.  

Durbin told the WBEZ  at least a dozen candidates have expressed interest in the seat. Here’s some candidates who might throw their hat in the ring to become Illinois’ next senator.  

Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton 

Stratton launched her Level Up federal political action committee in January, the first major sign of her intention to seek federal office.  

Federal law does not allow for funds raised for state campaigns to be used for federal campaigns, meaning her Illinois campaign fund cannot be used for a Senate run.  

Stratton has been Illinois’ lieutenant governor since 2019, having been announced as Gov. JB Pritzker’s running mate in 2017. She previously served in the Illinois House of Representatives from January 2017 to January 2019.  

Anonymous sources close to Stratton told Politico in March that she was planning to run for Senate and that she already had Pritzker’s support.  

A spokesperson for Pritzker said he did have an endorsement prepared. He also declined to back any candidates late Wednesday morning.  

“No candidates have announced, as far as I know, in the last hour, or whatever it's been and so, so that's something that I'll decide later,” he said.  

Pritzker has placed himself in the national spotlight as rumors of a 2028 presidential run circulate. Having Pritzker’s support — especially financial support — could put Stratton in a good position to win the primary.  

Pritzker has not yet announced if he will run for a third term as governor in 2026. Stratton could also be in an advantageous position to become Illinois’ first Black governor, either by running to replace Pritzker in 2026 if he opts not to run or staying in the lieutenant governor position to replace him if he successfully runs for president in 2028.  

U.S. Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi, Lauren Underwood and Robin Kelly  

U.S. Rep Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill) represents Illinois 8th Congressional District, which encompasses parts of Cook, Kane and DuPage Counties. 

He has $19.43 million cash on hand as of the end of the first quarter, placing him in a good financial position to run for Durbin’s seat.  

Krishnamoorthi has served in Congress since January 2017, replacing Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill) when she moved to the Senate. He had previously run for the seat in 2012 but lost to Duckworth. He also unsuccessfully ran for Illinois Comptroller in 2010.  

U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Ill) has represented Illinois’ 14th Congressional District since January 2019. The 14th district encompasses much of the western and northern Chicago suburbs.  

She is currently a member of House Democratic leadership, serving as co-chair of the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee.  

Underwood has just over $1.1 million cash on hand, putting her behind Krishnamoorthi financially. But a poll released earlier this month had her ahead of Krishnamoorthi, Stratton and U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Ill).  

Kelly has served as Illinois’ 2nd Congressional District’s representative since 2013, having previously served in Congress from January 2003 to January 2007. She was the chief of staff for then-Illinois State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias before unsuccessfully running for the position herself.  

Illinois’ 2nd Congressional District includes Chicago’s far southeast side and south suburbs, as well as parts of Will and Kankakee County.  

Kelly has just over $2 million cash on hand as of March of this year.  

All three congresspeople do risk losing their House seats if they choose to run for Senate. If they run for Senate, Illinois could have four open elections for seats in the U.S. House, with Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill) also rumored to not be seeking reelection in 2026, though she has not yet made an official announcement. 

Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs 

In a statement Wednesday, Frerichs said he was considering how he could “continue to best serve the people of Illinois” and said he was having discussions with his family on his political future.  

Like Stratton, Frerichs is up for reelection in 2026. He’s been Illinois’ treasurer since 2015, having previously served in the Illinois Senate from 2007 to 2015. Before that, he was the auditor of Champaign County.  

Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias  

Giannoulias was the Illinois state treasurer from 2007 to 2011 — defeating a candidate backed by then-Speaker of the Illinois House Mike Madigan in the Democratic primary. He has been the secretary of state since 2023.  

He ran for the senate in 2010 but lost to Republican candidate Mark Kirk in the general election.  

Giannoulias’ seat is also up for reelection in 2026. His name has not been high on the list of potential candidates for Senate, with rumors circulating he could instead run for mayor of Chicago.  

Like Stratton, Giannoulias and Frerichs could also make a run for governor in 2026.  

State Sen. Robert Peters 

Peters has been the state senator for the 13th district since 2019. He was appointed to replace Attorney General Kwame Raoul. The 13th district represents parts of East Side, Hyde Park, Kenwood, South Chicago, South Shore and Woodlawn. 

Despite his district being based in Chicago, Peters spent some time downstate in 2024, meeting with voters. The move indicated an interest in seeking a statewide office.  

Peters was the Senate sponsor of the Illinois’ SAFE-T Act, which ended cash bail in Illinois. He was reelected in 2020 and is up for reelection again in 2026.  

Rahm Emanuel 

Emanuel most recently was the ambassador to Japan under former President Joe Biden. He was the mayor of Chicago from May 2011 to May 2019 and represented Illinois 5th Congressional District in Congress from 2003 to 2009.  

He was also former President Barack Obama’s chief of staff from January 2009 to October 2010 and was a senior advisor for President Bill Clinton from January 1993 to November 1998.  

After a lengthy career in politics, Emanuel’s reportedly not done. Politico reported in March Emanuel was gearing up for a presidential run. His name has been included in the list of potential Chicago mayoral hopefuls, but the senate could also be on the table.  

U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood 

The above candidates will face each other in the democratic primary. Who they’ll face in the general election is up in the air. Some question if a Republican can still win a statewide election in Illinois.  

In a statement Wednesday, LaHood’s campaign said Illinoisans are “ready to turn the page” and are “tired of out-of-touch liberal policies.”  

“As the 2026 election approaches, Congressman LaHood remains focused on delivering conservative leadership for all Illinoisans that offers a clear alternative to the failed liberal policies driving families and businesses out of Illinois,” the statement said.  

It’s not an official announcement but is an indication LaHood’s at least considering a run. He’s been in Congress since 2015, first in the 18th Congressional District and now the 16th Congressional District, after redistricting shifted the map.  

He was a member of the Illinois Senate from March 2011 to September 2015. His dad is Ray LaHood, who was the Secretary of Transportation under Obama and was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 2009.