Longtime Illinois Democrat Sen. Dick Durbin announced Wednesday that he would not seek re-election to another term next year.

Durbin was first elected to the Senate in 1996, putting him in a tie for the fifth-most senior member in the chamber. Before moving to the Senate, Durbin also represented the state in the House for 14 years. 

In a video announcing his plans, Durbin, 80, said he decided it was time to “pass the torch” after being the longest-serving Illinois senator. 

“Right now, the challenges facing our country are historic and unprecedented,” Durbin said in the video. “I can assure you, I’ll do everything in my power to fight for Illinois and the future of our country every day of my remaining time in the Senate.”

Durbin also is the second Democrat on the Senate Agriculture Committee to announce retirement. He joined the panel in 2018. 

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Earlier this year, Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., another member of the committee, also announced her intent to retire at the end of her term. House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig, D-Minn., has previously said she’s seriously considering a run for that seat. 

Durbin has been a critic of crop insurance subsidies. In 2012, the Senate approved 66-33 an amendment led by Durbin and the late Tom Coburn, R-Okla., that would have reduced premium subsidies for farmers with adjusted gross incomes of more than $750,000. 

In 2018, the last time the Senate debated a farm bill, Durbin proposed but ultimately didn’t push for a vote on a similar amendment co-sponsored that time by Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa.

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