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Dick Durbin
Politicians/Dick Durbin
Dick Durbin (D)
Senate Minority Whip (IL)
Role Summary

The party whip is responsible for counting votes, ensuring party discipline, and rallying members to support or oppose key legislation. The whip serves as a critical link between party leadership and rank-and-file members, gathering intelligence on how members plan to vote and persuading them to follow the party line on important bills.

Quick Facts
Party
Democrat
Age
81
Religion
Roman Catholic
Birthplace
East Saint Louis, IL
Residence
Springfield, IL
Born
November 21, 1944
Family
Wife: Loretta; 3 Children: Christine (deceased), Paul, Jennifer
Contact
618-351-1122Contact Formwww.durbin.senate.gov
Election Info
DistrictSenior Seat, IL
Current Term01/07/1997 — Present
First Elected11/05/1996
Last Elected11/03/2020
Next Senator Election2026
Education
BS, Foreign Services/Economics
Georgetown University
1966
JD
Georgetown University
1969
Political Career8
Assistant Minority Leader/Minority Whip
United States Senate
2015-2017
Assistant Floor Leader
United States Senate
2001
Senator
United States Senate, Illinois
1997-present
Representative
United States House of Representatives, Illinois
1983-1996
Assistant Minority Leader
United States Senate
2005-2006
Assistant Majority Leader/Majority Whip
United States Senate
2006-2015
Majority Whip
United States Senate
2021-2025
Minority Whip
United States Senate
2017-2021; 2025-present
Professional Background4
Associate Professor
Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
1978-1983
Legal Counsel
Illinois Senate Judiciary Committee
1972-1982
Intern
United States Senator Paul Douglas
1966
Legal Counsel
Illinois Lieutenant Governor
1969-1973
Organizations5
Illinois Bar Association
Member
1969
Democratic Platform Committee
Co-Chair
2000
Democratic National Convention
Delegate
1984, 1988, 1992
Atlantic Conference
Co-Chair
Illinois State Delegation, Democratic National Convention
Chair
1996
Committees13
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
Committee on Appropriations
Committee on the Judiciary
Subcommittee on Commodities, Derivatives, Risk Management and Trade
Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism
Subcommittee on Defense
Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development
Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government
Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, Poultry, Local Food Systems, and Food Safety and Security
Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit
Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs
Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies

Recent Bills & Votes

S 5271A bill to amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require voters to provide photo identificationVoted NoHR 6500African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Extension ActVoted YesHR 5334Supporting Early-childhood Educators' Deductions (SEED) Act of 2025Voted YesS J Res 187A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to "Modification to the Start of the Submission Period for Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Reporting and Recordkeeping Under TSCA 8(a)(7)"Voted YesS J Res 181A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by CongressVoted Yes
Quick Facts
Party
Democrat
Age
81
Religion
Roman Catholic
Birthplace
East Saint Louis, IL
Residence
Springfield, IL
Born
November 21, 1944
Family
Wife: Loretta; 3 Children: Christine (deceased), Paul, Jennifer
Contact
618-351-1122Contact Formwww.durbin.senate.gov