(The Center Square) – U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin announced Wednesday that he will not seek reelection in 2026, ending his more than four-decade career representing Illinois. 

The 80-year old from East. St. Louis was first elected to the U.S. House in 1982 and served seven terms. Durbin, D-Springfield, was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1996, succeeding Paul Simon. 

Durbin made the announcement on social media in a highly-produced segment. 

“The decision to not run for reelection has not been easy,” said Durbin. “I truly love the job of being a United States Senator, but in my heart, I know it’s time to pass the torch.” 

Durbin served as the Democratic Party whip, the second-highest leadership position within the party. After his father died of lung cancer, Durbin is credited with igniting a movement to ban indoor smoking. 

Gov. J.B. Pritzker said both sides of the aisle should be grateful for Durbin’s service.

“Someone serving us for decades in Washington D.C. representing the state of Illinois with enormous integrity and honor is something we should all appreciate no matter what political party anybody belongs to,” said Pritzker at an appearance in Decatur.   

After the announcement, Illinois Republicans took the opportunity to take a jab at Durbin.

“After decades of speeches and zero real progress for Illinois families, Dick Durbin is stepping aside, proof that even the most entrenched eventually find the exit. Illinois families have a long-overdue chance to turn the page and elect a leader who will fight for lower taxes, less government spending, true support for Israel and our national and economic security,” said ILGOP Chairman Kathy Salvi in a statement. 

Illinois U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Schaumburg, has been mentioned as a possible candidate for Durbin’s seat in 2026. 

“Senator Durbin represents the true meaning of public service. Over the next two years, I know he will continue to fiercely advocate for our state, and I will be honored to fight alongside him as we continue to deliver for Illinois,” he said in a statement.

(The Center Square) – A bill that would have allowed Tennessee school districts to ban undocumented students died in the House of Representatives amid concerns it would impact federal funding.

House Bill 793/Senate Bill 836 was not revived before the General Assembly ended the 2025 session on Tuesday evening.

The state receives $1.1 billion in federal funding each year. That amount was deemed at risk to the consequences of the proposed law in relation to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, according to the bill’s fiscal note.

Title VI protections extend to undocumented individuals in the United States, the note said.

“Violations of federal civil rights laws may place this funding at risk, however, the specific amount at risk is undetermined,” analysts wrote in the bill’s fiscal note.

The Senate passed its version of the bill last Thursday, with supporters calling the bill a “financial” decision and opponents questioning the moral cost. Senate Bill 836, sponsored by Sen. Bo Watson, R-Hixson, received “no” votes from some Republicans.

Lisa Sherman Luna, executive director of the Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition, testified against the bill as it moved through committee.

“This is a major victory – and it belongs to all the children, parents, educators, faith leaders, business owners, veterans, partner organizations, and the bipartisan coalition of Republicans and Democrats who stood up for education for all children,” Luna said in a statement.

Another controversial education bill also failed. House and Senate leaders could not agree on a bill that would have cleared the way for a takeover of the Memphis Shelby County Schools. Rep. Mark White, R-Memphis, said the school system needed to do better with the money it received every year. An estimated 130,000 Memphis residents don’t have a high school diploma, he said.

Democrats said the bill was an attempt to take over the schools and create more charter schools. A forensic audit of the school system is being conducted and will be completed next year.

The House and Senate passed the nearly $60 billion budget last week.

Gov. Bill Lee praised the General Assembly, specifically $1 billion for road projects and more than $450 million in disaster relief for Hurricane Helene victims.

“We’ve passed strategic legislative and budget measures to improve infrastructure, invest in education, strengthen our workforce, and solidify Tennessee’s position as a leader in next-generation nuclear energy,” Lee said. “I thank the General Assembly for its partnership and continued commitment to responsible fiscal stewardship and innovation to improve the lives of the people we serve.”

(The Center Square) – A federal judge, said the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday night, is next up to consider a North Carolina Supreme Court decision in the nation’s last unresolved race from the Nov. 5 elections.

Democratic incumbent Allison Riggs and Republican challenger Jefferson Griffin are battling for Seat 6 on the state Supreme Court bench. Following the stay granted by the federal appellate court, Chief Judge Richard Myers of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina is to consider the process endorsed by the state high court.

Riggs, the North Carolina Democratic Party, the State Board of Elections, and multiple activist groups will try to convince Myers to not allow the state Supreme Court choice of a curing process for overseas voters’ ballots. A recalculation of the totals would follow.

Published reports say the number of ballots ranges between 1,500 and 6,000.

On Election Night, with 2,658 precincts reporting, Griffin led Riggs by 9,851 votes of 5,540,090 cast. Provisional and absentee ballots that qualified were added to the totals since, swinging the race by 10,585 votes.

Riggs has been poised for a 734-vote win. Griffin protested about 65,000 ballots on multiple counts, and the state board rejected all of them. Most were by 3-2 party-line votes.

The protests the state board denied included registration records of voters, such as lack of providing either a driver’s license number or the last four digits of a Social Security number. State law for that has been in place two decades, dating to 2004.

Other ballots protested and denied by the state board included voters overseas who have never lived in the United States, and for lack of photo identification provided with military and overseas voters. The latter is at issue for Myers.

The Supreme Court bench has historically been both nonpartisan and partisan, and since going back to the latter, was 6-1 Democrats in 2019. It is 5-2 Republicans today.

Riggs has been recused from all actions involving the state Supreme Court. She remains seated until the election is resolved. Griffin is a judge on the state Court of Appeals and has been recused from all actions there as well.