A prominent American politician and U.S. Senator from Illinois, Richard Durbin is a leading voice in social justice, economic policy, international relations, and human rights. His career spans over four decades of public service, during which he earned a reputation as one of the nation’s most progressive senators, according to rankings by the National Journal (2006) and GovTrack (2019). Durbin is widely recognized for his steadfast support of civil rights, social programs, and common-sense gun control. Read more at chicago-yes.
Biography
Richard Durbin was born in East St. Louis, Illinois. His father, William, was of Irish descent, while his mother, Anna, hailed from Lithuania. A 1962 graduate of Assumption High School, Durbin worked in a meatpacking plant to put himself through school. In 1966, he earned a Bachelor of Science from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. It was during an internship in Senator Paul Douglas’s office that he picked up the nickname “Dick,” which he has used ever since.
In 1969, Durbin earned his law degree from the Georgetown University Law Center and was admitted to the Illinois bar. He began his legal career in Springfield, serving as legal counsel to Lieutenant Governor Paul Simon (1969–1972) and as a consultant to the Illinois Senate Judiciary Committee (1972–1982). Alongside a five-year private practice, he also taught medical law at the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine.
U.S. House of Representatives Career
Durbin broke into federal politics in 1982, winning a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives for Illinois’ 20th Congressional District, which included Decatur and much of Springfield. He narrowly unseated Republican incumbent Paul Findley by just 1,400 votes. Running on a platform focused on unemployment and the economic struggles of farmers, Durbin also garnered support from pro-Israel groups, including AIPAC, due to Findley’s stance on the Palestine Liberation Organization. Durbin went on to win reelection six times, rarely facing a serious challenge.
U.S. Senate
In 1996, Durbin defeated Pat Quinn in the Democratic primary to succeed retiring Senator Paul Simon. He went on to defeat Republican Al Salvi in the general election and has since been reelected in 2002, 2008, 2014, and 2020.
Since 2005, Durbin has served as the Democratic Whip. He has held the role of Senate Majority Whip twice (2007–2015 and 2021–2025) and Senate Minority Whip three times (2005–2007, 2015–2021, and starting again in 2025). He also chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee from 2021 to 2025.
Political Positions
Durbin has long championed reproductive rights, criminal justice reform, and freedom of speech. While he initially supported certain abortion restrictions—even weighing the reversal of Roe v. Wade early in his career—his views evolved over time. Today, he is a staunch defender of reproductive healthcare and women’s right to choose.
In the realm of criminal justice, Durbin backed the Dignity for Incarcerated Women Act (2017), which bans the shackling of pregnant inmates and improves conditions for parents in federal prisons. He also played a key role in passing the First Step Act (2018), a landmark bill aimed at reducing recidivism and reforming mandatory minimum sentencing for non-violent offenders. A vocal advocate for gun control, Durbin supports a national ban on assault weapons, expanded background checks, and a crackdown on illegal interstate firearm trafficking.
His influence extends to global health. Durbin authored the African Health Capacity Investment Act (2007) to fund medical facilities and train physicians across Africa. The Senator has also championed legislation focused on HIV/AIDS prevention and protecting the rights of children and families within the healthcare system.
Durbin is the primary architect of the DREAM Act, which provides a path to legal status for undocumented immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as children. In 2013, the Immigrant Legal Resource Center honored him with the Nancy Pelosi Award for his leadership on immigration reform. He has also been a vocal critic of the harsh treatment of pregnant women in detention centers and the family separation policies of the Trump administration.
Internationally, Durbin is known for his human rights advocacy. He has condemned genocides in Darfur and Myanmar, pushed for sanctions against oppressive regimes, and criticized the use of drones for extrajudicial killings. He remains a supporter of a two-state solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, advocating for a demilitarized Palestinian state following the cessation of hostilities in Gaza.
On the technology front, Durbin has focused on intellectual property and platform accountability. He supported the PROTECT IP Act to combat online piracy and copyright infringement. In 2025, alongside Senator Lindsey Graham, he introduced the Sunset Section 230 Act, aimed at reforming the legal protections that shield internet platforms from liability for user-generated content.