Challenges Faced by Dick Durbin: Obstacles and Turning Points

A closer look at the defining struggles that shaped Dick Durbin's life and career.

Richard Joseph "Dick" Durbin is the senior United States Senator from Illinois, serving since 1997. A Democrat, he has been the Senate Democratic Whip since 2005, and Senate minority whip since 2025. He previously chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee from 2021 to 2025, where he notably led the Ketanji Brown Jackson Supreme Court nomination hearings. Durbin is currently serving his fifth Senate term.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

1976: Unsuccessful Candidate for Illinois State Senate

In 1976, Dick Durbin was an unsuccessful Democratic candidate for the Illinois State Senate.

1978: Unsuccessful Run for Lieutenant Governor

In 1978, Dick Durbin made an unsuccessful run for lieutenant governor of Illinois.

1978: Ran for Lieutenant Governor

In 1978, Dick Durbin ran for lieutenant governor as the running mate of Michael Bakalis, but they were defeated.

June 14, 2005: Durbin Compares Guantanamo Interrogation Techniques to Nazi Germany and Soviet Union

On June 14, 2005, Dick Durbin compared interrogation techniques used at Camp X-Ray, Guantanamo Bay, as reported by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, to those utilized by regimes such as Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union, and the Khmer Rouge.

June 21, 2005: Durbin Apologizes for Guantanamo Bay Remarks

On June 21, 2005, Dick Durbin apologized before the Senate for his earlier remarks regarding Guantanamo Bay, stating, "More than most people, a senator lives by his words ... occasionally words fail us, occasionally we will fail words."

2005: Durbin's Guantanamo Bay Remarks

In 2005, Dick Durbin compared the U.S. treatment of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base to atrocities committed by "Nazis, Soviets in their gulags, or some mad regime—Pol Pot or others—that had no concern for human beings." He later apologized to the military for his remarks.

2010: Durbin Cosponsors Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act

In 2010, Dick Durbin cosponsored and passed from committee the Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act, a bill aimed at combating media piracy by blacklisting websites. Opponents argued that this bill violated First Amendment rights and promoted censorship.

August 2013: Signed Letter Warning of Predatory Lending to Service Members

In August 2013, Dick Durbin was one of 23 Democratic senators to sign a letter to the Defense Department warning of some payday lenders offering predatory loan products to service members at exorbitant interest rates. They asserted that service members deserved strong protections against unsafe credit.

July 2014: Americas PAC Attacks Durbin's Staff Salaries

In July 2014, Americas PAC, a conservative Political Action Committee, released a radio advertisement attacking Dick Durbin's staff salaries. The attack was based on a Washington Times article alleging female staff members earned $11,000 less annually than male staffers. Durbin's lawyers claimed the information was false and threatened the radio stations with liability.

December 2017: CFPB Abandoned Supervision and Enforcement Activities related to federal student loan servicers

In April 2019, Dick Durbin was one of six senators to send a letter to CFPB director Kathy Kraninger expressing concern that the CFPB had abandoned its supervision and enforcement activities related to federal student loan servicers since December 2017. The senators requested clarification on the CFPB's role in overseeing the Public Service Loan Forgiveness's student loan servicers.

March 2018: Signed Letter Lambasting Proposal to Curb Lifeline Program Benefits

In March 2018, Dick Durbin was one of 10 senators to sign a letter criticizing FCC Chairman Ajit Pai's proposal to curb the scope of benefits from the Lifeline program. They argued that it was Pai's obligation to improve the program and ensure more Americans could afford access to broadband and phone service.

December 2018: Letter Expressing Concern Over INF Treaty Suspension

In December 2018, Dick Durbin was one of 26 senators who signed a letter expressing concern over the Trump administration's decision to suspend obligations in the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty if Russia continued to violate it. The letter called on Trump to continue arms negotiations.

March 2019: Letter to Saudi Arabia Requesting Release of Human Rights Activists

In March 2019, Dick Durbin was one of 10 Democratic senators who signed a letter to Salman of Saudi Arabia requesting the release of human rights lawyer Waleed Abu al-Khair, writer Raif Badawi, women's rights activists Loujain al-Hathloul and Samar Badawi, and Dr. Walid Fitaih. The senators cited concerns over arbitrary detentions, systematic discrimination, and mistreatment.

April 2019: Signed Letter Encouraging Trump to Reverse Decision on Foreign Assistance

In April 2019, Dick Durbin was one of 34 senators to sign a letter to Trump encouraging him to reverse a decision that would damage national security and aggravate conditions in Central America by preventing the use of Fiscal Year 2018 national security funding.

April 2019: Signed Letter Supporting HUD's Section 4 Capacity Building Program

In April 2019, Dick Durbin was one of 41 senators to sign a bipartisan letter to the housing subcommittee praising the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development's Section 4 Capacity Building program, expressing disappointment that Trump's budget slated it for elimination after decades of successful economic and community development.

April 2019: Letter to CFPB Director Expressing Concern About Student Loan Servicing

July 2019: Letter on Protecting Service Members' Families

In July 2019, Dick Durbin was one of 22 senators who signed a letter led by Tammy Duckworth. The letter argued against the Trump administration's plan to end protections from deportation for spouses, parents, and children of active-duty service members. The senators stated that ending the program would cause hardship for service members.

August 2019: Signed Letter Regarding Novartis Falsifying Data for Zolgensma Approval

In August 2019, Dick Durbin, along with other Senate Democrats and Bernie Sanders, signed a letter to the FDA Commissioner responding to Novartis falsifying data to gain approval for its gene therapy Zolgensma, calling it "unconscionable."

October 2019: Durbin Blocks Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act

In October 2019, Dick Durbin blocked the passage of S.386, also known as the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act. This act aimed to eliminate per-country numerical limitations for employment-based immigrants and increase the per-country limitation for family-sponsored immigrants from 7% to 15%.

2021: Participated in Electoral College Vote Count During Capitol Attack

In 2021, Dick Durbin was participating in the United States Electoral College vote count when pro-Trump rioters attacked the U.S. Capitol. Durbin evacuated to a secure location and blamed Trump for the attack, also calling for Trump's removal from office.