What to know about the open U.S. Senate seat to replace Dick Durbin

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin's announcement last year not to seek a sixth term sparked a high stakes political shuffle and a contentious open race among top Illinois Democrats to replace him.

Who are the candidates?

U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly, U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, Steve Botsford Jr., Sean Brown, Awisi A. Bustos, Jonathan Dean, Bryan Maxwell, Kevin Ryan and Christopher Swann.

How long is the term?

The seat's six-year term will begin January 2027.

So what?

Durbin's announcement was anticipated, but it led to a seismic shift in Illinois politics, where a long roster of Democrats who had been quietly jockeying for his position were able to jump into the spotlight. Krishnamoorthi and Kelly's runs also led to open races in both the 2nd and 8th congressional districts. And Stratton's run led to Gov. JB Pritzker choosing Christian Mitchell as his lieutenant governor pick for his reelection campaign. A New York Times tally of polling in the race, dating back to June 2025, shows Krishnamoorthi, Stratton and Kelly consistently leading the race.

What does a U.S. senator do?

Senators take action on bills, resolutions, amendments, motions, nominations and treaties by voting. Most importantly, they can confirm U.S. presidential appointments, approve or reject treaties and can convict or exonerate impeachment cases — which could be a factor during President Donald Trump's second term.

Why is a U.S. senator a powerful position?

The Senate is the most powerful chamber because no bill can become law, and no office can be filled, without the support of the Senate. Six-year terms also give senators more influence on national policies — and senators often use filibusters to delay or block legislation. Senators also have the ability to oversee federal agencies and budgets — although that power appears to be more limited under the Trump administration.

Who are the candidates?

Robin Kelly, who lives in south suburban Matteson, has represented the 2nd Congressional District since 2013 and previously served in the Illinois House. She also served as chief of staff to Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias and as Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle’s chief administrative officer. Her economic plan is aimed at affordability and calls for taxing the ultra rich, raising the minimum wage and expanding Medicare.

Raja Krishnamoorthi, who has represented the 8th Congressional District since 2018, announced his bid a day after Kelly. The fundraising leader called himself a “first-generation kid” who can stand up to bullies and billionaires. His economic policy includes a nationwide free lunch program, expanding the child tax credit and helping first-time homeowners get a refundable tax credit.

Juliana Stratton, the first Democrat to enter the field, said her path to the Senate may not be typical, “but then again, typical isn’t what we need right now.” She was quickly endorsed by Gov. JB Pritzker and Sen. Tammy Duckworth. One of Stratton's top economic priorities is to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 and she wants to expand the earned income tax credit for low and moderate-income workers.

Steve Botsford Jr. served on the legislative staff for U.S. Rep. Tony Cárdenas (D-Calif.) and later worked full-time in the finance industry. He ran for City Council in 2023 but lost to Ald. Timmy Knudsen (43rd). He says he's running because "Washington insiders keep leading the country in the wrong direction."

Sean Brown is an attorney and community organizer from the South Side. He wants universal healthcare, immigration reform, a new violence prevention and safety act and free tuition for public universities and colleges.

Awisi A. Bustos is a nonprofit executive and first-generation Ghanaian American. She previously served as the chief executive officer of the Illinois Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs, where she oversaw a $11 million budget. She says her mission is "to restore integrity, justice, and purpose to public service."

Jonathan Dean is an activist, entrepreneur and litigator — and he calls himself "a proud survivor of childhood sexual abuse." He says he's running because Illinois needs a senator who "will shock the system into working for young people, working families, and our children’s futures and stand against fascism and for American freedom."

Bryan Maxwell is an assistant research scientist and project engineer for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He has spent the last two years "organizing to stop sending our tax dollars to Israel for its genocide in Gaza." He believes tax dollars should be spent on local communities, "not bombing them overseas."

Kevin Ryan is a Chicago Public Schools teacher and a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. He says that Trump's return and "the Democratic Party's critical failures" made him want to run for public office: "We can no longer afford more machine politics, bowing to billionaires, or those who wait for 'their turn.'"

Christopher Swann is a deacon and nonprofit leader. Swann supports Palestinian freedom, working to end hunger and a guaranteed income for families below the poverty line. He also supports Medicare for All.