No leadership fight in Senate: Illinois’ Dick Durbin is re-elected as the No. 2 Democrat
Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin was re-elected Wednesday morning as the No. 2 Senate Democrat, heading off what some expected to be a challenge from Washington Sen. Patty Murray.
Durbin, 71, has served as Senate Democratic Whip since 2005. The St. Clair County native, first elected to the Senate in 1996, has more seniority than Sen. Charles Schumer, but did not challenge the New Yorker to become the Senate’s top Democrat.
Murray, elected in 1992, has more seniority than both Durbin and Schumer, who was elected in 1998. She was elected assistant Democratic leader on Wednesday morning.
I'm honored Senate Dems have again supported my service as Whip–I look fwd to cont working w/colleagues to address issues facing our nation
— Senator Dick Durbin (@SenatorDurbin) November 16, 2016
I'm so honored my colleagues put their trust in me to take on the role of Assistant Democratic Leader on the Democratic leadership team. -PM
— Senator Patty Murray (@PattyMurray) November 16, 2016
Though Democrats failed to win the Senate last week, they picked up two seats, including that of Illinois Republican Sen. Mark Kirk. Rep. Tammy Duckworth, a Democrat from northern Illinois, will join Durbin in the Senate in January.
Missouri Republican Sen. Roy Blunt, who held off a re-election challenge from Democrat Jason Kander, Missouri’s secretary of state, was elected as Senate Republican Conference vice chairman on Wednesday morning.
Curtis Tate: 202-383-6018, @tatecurtis
This story was originally published November 16, 2016 at 11:56 AM with the headline "No leadership fight in Senate: Illinois’ Dick Durbin is re-elected as the No. 2 Democrat."