Brian Schatz racks up support to succeed Dick Durbin as the No. 2 Senate Democrat
The election to replace Durbin as the Democratic whip won't happen until after the 2026 midterms, but Schatz is wasting little time.
WASHINGTON — The leadership election to succeed retiring Sen. Dick Durbin as the No. 2 Democrat in the chamber is a year and a half away, but Sen. Brian Schatz is already racking up endorsements.
Since Durbin, 80, of Illinois, announced last week that he wouldn't seek re-election in 2026, Schatz, 52, of Hawaii, has been aggressively working behind the scenes to consolidate support for the post of Senate Democratic whip, having key allies speak to colleagues and securing at least eight endorsements.
Others could still jump in the race to be Democrats' top vote-counter. Amy Klobuchar, 64, of Minnesota, a former presidential candidate who is the No. 3 Senate Democrat, hasn’t closed the door on a potential bid. And others have floated Patty Murray, 74, of Washington, who has held various leadership roles over the years and is now the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee.
But Schatz hopes getting a head start will give him a leg up against other potential rivals, with the election to replace Durbin not taking place until after the 2026 midterms. He has received early endorsements from Sens. Cory Booker, D-N.J., Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., and Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., who have been speaking to other members about supporting him.
“Right now, we’re doing the work and I’m continuing conversations with members,” Schatz said in an interview Thursday. “I just have a view that when you realize you want to run, you just get started.”
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