Dick Durbin : Ask Biography

Personal data

Date of birth

November 21, 1944(age 72)

Place of birth

East St. Louis, Illinois, United States

Birth name

Richard Joseph Durbin

Political party

Democratic Party

Spouse

Loretta Schaefer

Children

Christine (Deceased)
Jennifer
Paul

Alma mater

Georgetown University

Profession

Lawyer

Religion

Roman Catholicism

Assumed office

January 3, 1997

Serving with Mark Kirk

Preceded by

Paul Simon

Senate Assistant Majority Leader

Assumed office

January 3, 2007

Leader

Harry Reid

Preceded by

Mitch McConnell

Senate Minority Whip

In office

January 3, 2005 - January 3, 2007

Leader

Harry Reid

Succeeded by

Trent Lott

Preceded by

Harry Reid

Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 20th district

In office

January 3, 1983 - January 3, 1997

Succeeded by

John Shimkus

Preceded by

Paul Findley

Home | Office Holder | Dick Durbin

Richard Joseph "Dick" Durbin (born November 21, 1944) is the senior United States Senator from Illinois and the Senate Majority Whip, the second highest position in the Democratic Party leadership in the Senate.

Born in East St. Louis, Illinois, he graduated from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and Georgetown University Law Center. 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-point margin. He has served as Senate Democratic Whip since 2005, and assumed his current title when the Democratic Party obtained a majority in 2007. As a member of the Democratic leadership, he has a record as one of the most liberal members of Congress.