High-Ranking Senate Democrat Dick Durbin Calls It Quits

(Jacquelyn Martin/AP photo)

Dick Durbin, an Illinois lawmaker and one of the top Democrats in the U.S. Senate, has announced he will not seek reelection.

Durbin, 80, is calling it quits after over 40 years as a lawmaker, first in the U.S. House of Representatives and then the Senate, where he is currently serving as his caucus’s second-in-command behind Chuck Schumer.

Durbin revealed his age played a major role in his decision.

“It’s time,” Durbin told WBEZ on Wednesday. “You observe your colleagues and watch what happens. For some of them, there’s this miraculous aging process where they never seem to get too old.”

Potential replacements for Durbin may include Illinois Reps. Lauren Underwood, Raja Krishnamoorthi, and Robin Kelly, as well as Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, according to The New York Times.

WBEZ and The Times were the first outlets to report Durbin’s decision.

Durbin’s career as a lawmaker has spanned 42 years and seven presidents.

He was first elected to the House in 1982 and served seven terms. In 1996, he took over the Senate seat of retiring Sen. Paul Simon and served five more terms.