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.