Dick Durbin
Richard Joseph "Dick" Durbin (born November 21, 1944) is the senior United States Senator from Illinois. He is also the Senate Majority Whip, the second highest position in the Democratic Party leadership in the Senate.
Dick Durbin | |
|---|---|
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| Senate Majority Whip | |
| Assumed office January 20, 2021 | |
| Leader | Chuck Schumer |
| Preceded by | John Thune |
| In office January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2015 | |
| Leader | Harry Reid |
| Preceded by | Mitch McConnell |
| Succeeded by | John Cornyn |
| Senate Minority Whip | |
| In office January 3, 2015 – January 20, 2021 | |
| Leader | Harry Reid Chuck Schumer |
| Preceded by | John Cornyn |
| Succeeded by | John Thune |
| In office January 3, 2005 – January 3, 2007 | |
| Leader | Harry Reid |
| Preceded by | Harry Reid |
| Succeeded by | Trent Lott |
| United States Senator from Illinois | |
| Assumed office January 3, 1997 Serving with Tammy Duckworth | |
| Preceded by | Paul Simon |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 20th district | |
| In office January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1997 | |
| Preceded by | Paul Findley |
| Succeeded by | John Shimkus |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Richard Joseph Durbin November 21, 1944 East St. Louis, Illinois, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) |
Loretta Schaefer (m. 1967) |
| Children | 3 |
| Residence | Springfield, Illinois, U.S. |
| Education | Georgetown University (BS, JD) |
| Signature |  |
| Website | Senate website |
Durbin was born on November 21, 1944 in East St. Louis, Illinois.[1] He graduated from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and Georgetown University Law Center. Durbin is married to Loretta Schaefer. They had three children. In 2008, their daughter died from heart problems.[2]
Working in state legal counsel throughout the 1970s, he made an unsuccessful run for Lieutenant Governor of Illinois in 1978. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1982, representing the Springfield-based 20th congressional district.
In 1996 he won election to the U.S. Senate by an unexpected 15 points. He became the Senate Democratic Whip in 2005. From January 3, 2007 to January 3, 2015, he was the Senate Majority Whip because his party had the majority.
Durbin is the only the fifth United States senator from Illinois to serve the position of United States Senate Minority Whip.[3]
References
change- ↑ "Senator Dick Durbin - Biography - Project Vote Smart". Votesmart.org. 1944-11-21. Archived from the original on 2011-10-26. Retrieved 2012-09-15.
- ↑ "Sen. Durbin's eldest daughter, Christine, dies". www.chicagotribune.com. November 1, 2008. Retrieved May 12, 2019.
- ↑ "Dick Durbin info". Durbin.senate.gov. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
Other websites
change- United States Senator Dick Durbin official U.S. Senate site
- Dick Durbin, U.S. Senator official campaign site
