We all know that Senators Carl Levin (D. MI), Jay Rockefeller (D. WV), Tom Harkin (D. IA) and Frank Lautenberg (D. NJ) have all decided to call it quits and won't be a part of the 114th congress in 2015. We are also waiting to hear the decision from Senator Tim Johnson (D. SD) this month. But just to let you all know, Senator Dick Durbin (D. IL) will indeed be a part of the 114th congress:
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/...
Democrats apparently have one less thing to worry about as they try to keep control of the Senate in 2014: Dick Durbin isn't retiring.
A source familiar with the Senate majority whip's thinking confirms to CNN that Durbin next year will seek a fourth term in office. There was recent speculation that the Illinois Democrat, 68, would not run for re-election in 2014.
Durbin won 68% of the vote in his 2008 re-election victory against a little-known GOP opponent.
The news that Durbin will run for re-election, which was first reported over the weekend by the Chicago Tribune and WGN, should allay concerns by national Democrats, especially following last week's announcement by Sen. Carl Levin of Michigan that he will retire at the end of 2014, rather than make a bid for re-election. Levin became the fourth Democratic senator to announce that he'll step down at the end of next year, joining Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia, Tom Harkin of Iowa, Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey. - CNN, 3/11/13
Durbin confirmed he would not be retiring this past weekend on local Chicago news:
http://www.nbcchicago.com/...
“I love my job,” he said. “I feel strong, healthy and it’s great to have a President who knows where to find Illinois. I’ll be able to help in the Senate and bring some jobs to this state.”
The senator's re-election bid alleviates some national concerns for his party after four democratic senators announced retirement plans.
Durbin, 68, is the U.S. Senate's second most-powerful Democrat, a position he's held since 2007. A successful re-election bid would put him in Washington through 2020. - NBC 5 Chicago, 3/9/13
And in case you were wondering, PPP showed Durbin looking pretty safe for re-election:
http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/...
As we showed yesterday, there is some concern about keeping the Illinois governor’s mansion in Democratic hands, but its senior U.S. Senate seat is probably safe, as long as its current occupant, Majority Whip Dick Durbin, wants it. More than half of Illinoisans (51%) approve of Durbin’s job performance, and about a third (34%) disapprove. In a generic re-elect test, Durbin gets 52% of the vote to an unnamed Republican’s 38%.
Durbin is in such good shape because 20% of Republicans support his work in the Senate, and 13% of them say they will probably vote for him in two years. Independents are split right down the middle on both fronts, including 42-42 on the re-elect.
Faced with actual opponents, Durbin does even better, though slightly more Republicans and independents are undecided than Democrats. Outgoing Rep. Bob Dold comes closest to matching the ideal Republican’s standing, with a 21-point deficit (54-33). Failed 2010 Tea Party contender Patrick Hughes is down 22 (53-31), and retiring Rep. Joe Walsh lags by 25 (54-29). - 11/30/12
Of course anything could happen in-between now and 2014 but I think we will be able to hold onto this seat with Durbin deciding to run again. He's the second most powerful Democrat in the Senate so it makes sense he would want to run for a fourth term. It's now up to Johnson in South Dakota to decide if he wants to stay or go. More as the story unfolds.