Richard Durbin is the senior Democratic Senator for the state of Illinois. He is also the Democratic Majority Whip, a position that he has held since January 4, 2007. Durbin was re-elected to the Senate on November 4, 2008.

Richard Durbin joined Governor Pat Quinn on urging Senator Roland Burris to step down from office, stating that Burris has little chance of winning the seat next year in his bid for reelection. Burris nevertheless refuses to leave office.The Associated Press: Burris refuses to resign despite plea from Durbin (February 24, 2008)

1. Full name: Richard Joseph "Dick" Durbin
2. Born: November 21, 1944 in East St. Louis, Illinois
3. Assumed Office: January 7, 1997
4. Party: Democratic
5. Spouse: Loretta Schaefer
6. Alma Mater: Georgetown University
7. Previous profession: Lawyer
8. Nephew is Chad Durbin of the Detroit Tigers
9. Daughter Chris Durbin died November 1, 2008 of a congenital heart condition at age 40NBC: Senator Dick Durbin's Daughter, Christine, Dies (November 1, 2008)
10. One of Time Magazine's "America's 10 Best Senators"

Richard Durbin was cited as one of the most effective members of the Senate in April 2006 by Time Magazine. Time stated that Durbin's off-the-cuff style of debate has engaged significant and substantial discourse on the Senate floor. He was ranked along with Senators Thad Cochran, Kent Conrad, Edward Kennedy, Jon Kyl and Carl Levin.Time Magazine: Dick Durbin: The Debater (April 14, 2006)

During his tenure in the Senate, Durbin has won support on the Senate Judiciary Committee for immigration issues, and has joined with Senators from the opposing party to vote on giving additional aid to the United Nations Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.Chicago Free Press: Activists urge AIDS funding

• Committee Site: Democrats: Richard J. Durbin