Durbin Fundraising Gives Signal He May Run in 2026
U.S. Senator Richard Durbin nearly doubled each of his first two fundraising quarters of the year in the third quarter, which was reported Sunday. It set off new speculation the Democrat may seek a sixth term in the Senate in 2026.
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After two consecutive fundraising quarters that left some Democrats wondering if Sen. Richard Durbin would seek his sixth term in the Senate in 2026, Durbin appeared to reignite his fundraising in the third quarter of 2023.
Durbin, who would turn 82 a couple of weeks after the November 2026 election, raised around $200,000 in the most recent quarter. The first two quarters of the year showed fundraising figures around $100,000.
Illinois’ senior senator reported about $1.65 million in the bank as of September 30.
It isn’t perceived as a slam dunk that Durbin will or won’t run again in 2026, but some Democrats we spoke to Tuesday said the fact that he’s still raising money should be a signal Durbin may not be going anywhere.
“Let’s be honest, Dick Durbin is a yes until he decides he’s not,” a top Democratic consultant said. “There isn’t a serious challenge to him in a primary or general election.”
Durbin’s campaign has not responded to a request for comment.
UPDATE (Thursday 9:54AM): A Durbin spokesperson says “We have nothing to share at this time about the Senator's plans for 2026 or beyond.”
Durbin has survived skin cancer, had a benign tumor removed from his stomach in 2010, and had heart surgery in 2017. He also had COVID three times in 2022 and 2023.