Challenges Faced by Dick Durbin: Obstacles and Turning Points

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

Dick Durbin is a prominent American politician and the senior U.S. Senator from Illinois, serving since 1997. A Democrat, he has been the Senate Democratic Whip since 2005, holding the record as the longest-serving Democratic whip since 1913. He also served as the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee from 2021 to 2025. Notably, Durbin led the Supreme Court nomination hearings for Ketanji Brown Jackson.

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. From 1976 to 1981 he co-owned the Crow's Mill Pub in Springfield's Toronto neighborhood.

1978: Unsuccessful run for Lieutenant Governor

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

October 2007: Durbin Opposes Casino Bill in Illinois

In October 2007, Durbin opposed a bill in the Illinois General Assembly that would allow three casinos to be built, questioning whether building more casinos was the future of Illinois.

April 2013: Durbin chairs hearing on targeted killings and use of drones

In April 2013, Durbin chaired a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights about the moral, legal and constitutional issues surrounding targeted killings and the use of drones. Durbin expressed concerns about undermining counterterrorism efforts.

August 2013: Durbin warns Defense Department about predatory payday lenders

In August 2013, Dick Durbin and 22 other Democratic senators signed a letter to the Defense Department warning of some payday lenders "offering predatory loan products to service members at exorbitant triple-digit effective interest rates", asserting that service members deserve strong protections.

July 2014: Americas PAC releases radio advertisement attacking Durbin's staff salaries

In July 2014, Americas PAC released a radio advertisement attacking Durbin's staff salaries, based on a Washington Times article alleging that Durbin's female staff members made $11,000 less annually than his male staffers. Durbin's lawyers responded with a letter claiming the information was false, but the radio station continued airing the ad.

2014: Report of potential conflicts of interest regarding Durbin's wife's lobbying clients

In 2014, the Chicago Tribune reported that some of Dick Durbin's wife's "clients have received federal funding promoted by [Durbin]". The Durbins maintain that they try to avoid conflicts of interest.

December 2017: CFPB role in overseeing the Public Service Loan Forgiveness

In April 2019, Dick Durbin and 5 other senators sent CFPB director Kathy Kraninger a letter requesting that Kraninger clarify the CFPB's role in overseeing the Public Service Loan Forgiveness's student loan servicers handling since December 2017, such as examinations.

2017: Durbin questioned Amy Coney Barrett about her self-descriptive terminology "orthodox Catholic"

In 2017, Dick Durbin was criticized for requesting a clarification from then Court of Appeals nominee Amy Coney Barrett during her Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing about her self-descriptive terminology "orthodox Catholic." He contended that such terminology might unfairly characterize Catholics who may not agree with the church's positions about abortion or the death penalty.

March 2018: Durbin criticizes FCC proposal to curb Lifeline program benefits

In March 2018, Dick Durbin and 9 other senators criticized FCC Chairman Ajit Pai's proposal that would curb the scope of benefits from the Lifeline program, arguing it was Pai's obligation to improve the Lifeline program to ensure more Americans can afford access to broadband and phone service.

December 2018: Durbin expresses concern over Trump administration's suspension of obligations in the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty

In December 2018, Dick Durbin and 25 other senators signed a letter expressing concern after the Trump administration announced it was suspending its obligations in the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. They called on Trump to continue arms negotiations.

2018: Trump prevents the use of Fiscal Year 2018 national security funding

In April 2019, Dick Durbin and 33 other senators asserted that Trump was "personally undermining efforts to promote U.S. national security and economic prosperity" by preventing the use of Fiscal Year 2018 national security funding.

March 2019: Durbin requests release of human rights lawyers and activists from Saudi Arabia.

In March 2019, Dick Durbin and 9 other Democratic senators 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, citing arbitrary detention and systematic discrimination.

April 2019: Durbin encourages Trump to reverse decision damaging national security and aggravating conditions inside Central America

In April 2019, Dick Durbin and 33 other senators signed a letter to Trump encouraging him "to listen to members of your own Administration and reverse a decision that will damage our national security and aggravate conditions inside Central America", asserting that Trump had "consistently expressed a flawed understanding of U.S. foreign assistance".

April 2019: Durbin praises the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development's Section 4 Capacity Building program

In April 2019, Dick Durbin and 40 other senators signed a bipartisan letter to the housing subcommittee praising the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development's Section 4 Capacity Building program and expressing disappointment that Trump's budget "has slated this program for elimination after decades of successful economic and community development."

April 2019: Durbin expresses concern that CFPB leadership abandoned supervision and enforcement activities

In April 2019, Dick Durbin and 5 other senators sent CFPB director Kathy Kraninger a letter expressing concern that "CFPB leadership has abandoned its supervision and enforcement activities related to federal student loan servicers" and opining that such behavior displayed "a shocking disregard for the financial well-being of our nation's public servants".

July 2019: Letter on protections for families of active-duty service members

In July 2019, Dick Durbin was among 22 senators who signed a letter to the Trump administration, led by Tammy Duckworth, opposing the termination of protections for spouses, parents, and children of active-duty service members from deportation. The letter argued that ending the program would cause hardship for service members deployed overseas.

August 2019: Durbin responds to Novartis falsifying data

In August 2019, Dick Durbin, three other Senate Democrats, and Bernie Sanders signed a letter to Acting FDA Commissioner Ned Sharpless in response to Novartis falsifying data as part of an attempt to gain the FDA's approval for its new gene therapy Zolgensma. They wrote that it was "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 bill aimed to eliminate per-country numerical limitations for employment-based immigrants and increase limitations for family-sponsored immigrants.

2020: Senators hope for continued funding for Section 4

In April 2019, Dick Durbin and 40 other senators wrote of their hope that the subcommittee would support continued funding for Section 4 in Fiscal Year 2020.

2021: Durbin participates 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. He evacuated to a secure location and blamed Trump for the attack, calling for his removal.

November 2023: Durbin calls for ceasefire in Gaza war

In November 2023, Dick Durbin was the first U.S. senator to call for a ceasefire in the Gaza war.

January 2024: Durbin votes against resolution applying human rights provisions to U.S. aid to Israel

In January 2024, Dick Durbin voted against a resolution proposed by Senator Bernie Sanders to apply the human rights provisions of the Foreign Assistance Act to U.S. aid to Israel's military. The proposal was defeated.

March 2024: Durbin urges Biden administration to recognize a "nonmilitarized" Palestinian state

In March 2024, Dick Durbin urged the Biden administration to recognize a "nonmilitarized" Palestinian state after the end of the war in Gaza.

March 2025: Durbin votes to pass continuing resolution advancing Trump administration's spending bill

In March 2025, Dick Durbin voted with all Senate Republicans and nine Democrats to pass a continuing resolution, advancing the Trump administration's spending bill, angering many Democratic base constituents.

April 2025: Durbin votes for resolutions to cancel Trump administration's arms sales to Israel

In April 2025, Dick Durbin voted for a pair of resolutions Sanders proposed to cancel the Trump administration's sales of $8.8 billion in bombs and other munitions to Israel. The proposals were defeated.

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