Richard Durbin

Sen. Dick Durbin sat down for an exclusive one-on-one interview.

Durbin isn't seeking a sixth term in the U.S. Senate in November.

Durbin talked a variety of topics, including former President Barack Obama.

SPRINGFIELD, IL — U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski recalled that U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin advised her when she was running for office about the power of telling a story.

"I think that is probably the most powerful way to articulate to people how public policy makes a difference in their daily lives," said Budzinski, a Springfield Democrat who represents the 13th Congressional District and who first campaigned for Durbin for Senator in 1996.

Durbin, in a wide-ranging interview with The State Journal-Register in its Springfield newsroom Sept. 9, acknowledged that "the six most important words of any speech are 'Let me tell you a story.'"

Some of Durbin's most dramatic stories, often accompanied by photos, have come on the Senate floor in his long, but unsuccessful attempt to pass the DREAM Act, which would have granted immigrants in the U.S. illegally, but who grew up in the country, a pathway toward American citizenship.

"It's interesting when I tell the stories of these young people and their lives, there's a hush that falls on the gallery. Pages and everybody lean forward to hear the story because they're inspiring stories," Durbin said. "These young people have overcome the odds, and I think they're the best arguments for that bill."

In addition to immigration, Durbin answered questions about his early support for Barack Obama's presidency, early losses in his political career, his work with politicians across the aisle and his being denied communion in the Springfield Roman Catholic Diocese.

Saying it was time for "a new person to come in," the 81-year-old Durbin, the minority whip in the Senate, announced on April 23, 2025, that he wouldn't seek a sixth term in November, capping a 44-year career in Congress.

Durbin, who still maintains a home in Springfield, first defeated incumbent U.S. Rep. Paul Findley, R-Jacksonville, in 1982 and succeeded his mentor, Sen. Paul Simon, in the Senate in 1996.

Three losses

Politically, Durbin stumbled out of the gate, losing three elections between 1976 and 1980.

Like in the 1982 Congressional race, Durbin faced a veteran incumbent for 50th District State Senator in 1976, John A. "Doc" Davidson, a Springfield chiropractor.

Durbin remembered getting calls from supporters who had his political signs in their yards that Davidson had stopped by.

"(He asked them), 'Did I ever do anything to hurt you that you disagree with?' I thought, if he's going after people with my signs in their yards, he's knocking on every door," Durbin said.

Durbin was preparing for a rematch with Davidson in 1978 when he got slotted in as lieutenant governor with gubernatorial candidate Michael Bakalis. The ticket faced Gov. Jim Thompson, who had just been elected two years before.

"Thompson had a card to play we hadn't anticipated," Durbin said. "Jayne Thompson had a baby in September before the election — Samantha — and I thought that was a real dirty trick to use that beautiful little girl to defeat us even more decisively."

Durbin lost as a Ted Kennedy presidential delegate in 1980.

'A friend'

Durbin ran against Findley in an admittedly gerrymandered district. Forty percent of it was new territory for the Jacksonville incumbent, including Decatur.

Just over 1,400 votes separated the two in an election in which Middle East politics played a role.

The two grew closer later. Findley calling Durbin "a friend" at an Illinois College Phi Alpha Literary Society lecture in 2012 "was and still is a highlight.

"I've tried my best to maintain a friendship with people I've contested elections with," Durbin contended. "I think that's what the American people expect. Give it your best in the campaign, but when it's over, at least be cordial and friendly with the person you ran against. That seldom happens and I wish it would happen more, but it did with Paul Findley and (me).

"I've worked with (Craig Findley, Paul Findley's son) on a number of things over the years. I recommended him to Democratic governors in the past when they needed to choose a Republican for political balance."

A 'crazy notion'

Durbin's bipartisan outreach paid dividends, in part, with the $544 million Springfield Rail Improvements Project, Amtrak and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.

A friendship with former U.S. Rep. Ray LaHood of Peoria, who served as Secretary of Transportation in Obama's presidency, "led to the benefits that are still being felt today," Durbin said.

A conversation with then-Mayor J. Michael Houston — Durbin thought Houston had eyes on the Congressional seat — led to work on railroad relocation.

When Durbin had "this crazy notion" for the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, he formed a coalition that included former Gov. George Ryan and former Mayor Karen Hasara.

"It attracts a lot of tourists to Springfield. I think we can do better," Durbin acknowledged. "Downtown desperately needs more activity, more businesses, more restaurants, more living space and I think the ALPLM can be a magnet for drawing in tourism much greater than it is today. But it was a bi-partisan effort from the beginning."

'A fascinating story'

Durbin said he first noticed Obama when his memoir "Dreams from My Father" was published in 1995.

"I thought to myself, how many state senators do you know in history who has ever written a book about their lives that anyone cared about? He did because he had such a fascinating story to tell about his father and because he's such a good writer," Durbin said.

"My wife, Loretta, and I contacted him and Michelle, and we went out to dinner together. (Malia) was in a stroller, so they were just getting started (with a family) and we struck up a friendship."

By then a U.S. Senator, Durbin said he first confronted Obama about running for president at the Union League Club of Chicago in November 2006. He told Obama he could make "a good run at it" and that if he lost, he was sure to get another opportunity.

Obama countered, Durbin said, that "it was all about Michelle." Particularly older Black friends were worried Obama would get assassinated, Durbin was told by Obama.

"I said, 'Well, that's so personal that you have to discuss that with Michelle as well,' so we left it at that," Durbin said. "Three or four days later, a reporter asked me in Chicago that he heard the rumor you're supporting Obama for president. And I said, 'Yes, I am.' It wasn't long thereafter in February 2007 at the Old State Capitol, I introduced Barack when he announced his candidacy for president.

"I got into a plane with him and his family afterwards and flew to Iowa. I was the first senator to endorse him for president and for 14 months, I was the only senator to endorse him for president and I was his surrogate. I spent more time in New Hampshire and Iowa and every place you could think of drumming up support for him.

"It's one of the real satisfactions in my career to have been part of that important and historic election."

DREAM deferred

Durbin admitted that "it breaks my heart" not to see the DREAM (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors) Act get enacted.

DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), an executive order signed by Obama in 2012, gives protection to young people who grew up in the U.S. and gives them the opportunity to work legally and not be deported if every two years they turn themselves in for a criminal background check and pay a filing fee.

Durbin called DACA "a parallel status to the DREAM Act" and proof that the premise of his effort is "a sound premise."

"There's no one," Budzinski said, "who's cared more passionately about Dreamers in this country than Dick Durbin."

Communion question

Durbin, who supports abortion rights, said the experience of mostly being denied communion over the past two decades in Springfield, a notion that has been reiterated by current Bishop Thomas John Paprocki, has been "painful."

In 2025, Durbin declined a lifetime achievement award by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago, despite encouraging words from Pope Leo XIV, a Chicagoan.

Durbin and his wife have long attended Old St. Patrick's Church in Chicago.

"They're a welcoming parish," Durbin said. "They have a great mission and I'm happy to be part of it, so I think the net result of it was that I found a church home that is a comfort to my family."

Post retirement

Durbin confirmed that he is keeping his home in Springfield and condo in Chicago, while closing down his Washington, D.C. apartment.

"It's hard to explain to people that you have laundry tickets in three different cities, but that's a fact," he said.

What Durbin will do in retirement "remains to be seen. There are several ideas out there and several offers out that are enticing, but I still have a few months to make a final decision."

Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788; [email protected]; X, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie.