Latest news with #DickDurbin
Washington Post
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Illinois Democratic Rep. Danny Davis says he won't seek reelection after 15 terms in Congress
CHICAGO — U.S. Rep. Danny Davis announced Thursday that he won't seek reelection next year after 15 terms in office, making him the latest longtime Illinois Democrat to announce their retirement from Congress. Davis, 83, sits on the powerful House Committee on Ways and Means. First elected in 1996, he represents a solidly Democratic district that includes downtown Chicago, large sections of the city's South and West Sides, and inner ring suburbs. 'We're not going to go away,' Davis said, flanked by his wife, local pastors and congressmen at a parking lot in East Garfield Park on Chicago's West Side. 'But the time has come.' Davis's retirement adds to an already unsettled 2026 congressional landscape in Illinois, where there are now four open seats. His announcement comes months after longtime U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky said she won't run again and U.S Sen. Dick Durbin , the Senate's No. 2 Democrat, decided he won't seek a sixth term in 2026. There are two other open congressional seats, with U.S. Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi and Robin Kelly planning to run for Senate. Davis has easily won reelection for decades, enjoying his status as a respected elder statesman. Known for his deep and distinct voice, he remained visible in his district, which includes large low-income pockets. However, his last two primaries were challenging , with questions about his age and whether he remained the right fit for the district. During the campaign, he fended off questions about his acumen by playing up his experience and using humor. 'I'm not running to be the quarterback for the (Chicago) Bears. I'm not running to carry the torch in the Olympics,' he told the Associated Press last year. 'I'm running to use my knowledges, my expertise, my intellect.' Davis — among the most liberal members of Congress and a member of the Congressional Black Caucus — has made issues of racial equality central to his political career. Before announcing his retirement, Davis warned about efforts to undo his and other Democratic officials' health care advocacy efforts. 'There are efforts right now underway to try to diminish Medicare, Medicaid,' he said Thursday. 'If those programs are seriously diminished, thousands and thousands and thousands of people will not have access to health care.' Davis was among the House Democrats who took part in a 2016 sit-in to demand a vote on gun control measures. His advocacy took a personal turn later that year when his 15-year-old grandson was fatally shot in Chicago after a dispute over basketball shoes. He also pushed for legislation that would ban racial profiling, saying he was a victim of it himself when he was pulled over by two white police officers in Chicago. He was co-chair of the Congressional Black Men and Boys Caucus, which was formed in 2013 after the death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin , the Florida teenager who was shot and killed during a confrontation with a neighborhood watch volunteer. Over the years, he has also pushed for legislation to help former prison inmates find jobs and has helped inmates in his district by sponsoring workshops. He has spent Christmas Day with inmates at Cook County Jail. Born in Arkansas, Davis worked as a school teacher and Civil Rights activist. Before Congress, he served as a Chicago city alderman and Cook County board member. In 1991, he ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Chicago against Mayor Richard M. Daley. He actively sought other offices while in Congress too. He contemplated another Chicago mayoral run in 2010 after Daley announced he was leaving office. In 2009, he threw his name in the hat for Cook County Board president, filing as a candidate for Congress and for board president. He eventually dropped the board president bid. Until former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's arrest in December 2008, Davis was interested in replacing Barack Obama in the Senate after Obama's presidential victory. Davis said Blagojevich eventually offered him the appointment but he rejected it because of the scandal surrounding the governor. Word of Davis' retirement set off a scramble among potential replacements, including on Thursday when Davis endorsed longtime state legislator, Rep. La Shawn Ford of Chicago. Davis called Ford 'young, energetic, super ready,' calling it 'my honor, my pleasure, my delight' to endorse him. Several others have floated the idea of running, including Chicago City Chicago Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin, who unsuccessfully challenged Davis last year, and businessman Jason Friedman.
The Hill
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Watch live: Warnock, Durbin reintroduce voting rights bill named for John Lewis
Democratic Sens. Raphael Warnock (Ga.) and Dick Durbin (Ill.) are set to reintroduce the Senate version of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2025, which would replace the 1965 Voting Rights Act. The duo introduced a similar bill last year seeking to 'strengthen our democracy by reestablishing preclearance for jurisdictions with a pattern of voting rights violations, protecting minority communities subject to discriminatory voting practices, and defending election workers from threats and intimidation,' according to a press release. Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Ala.) unveiled the House bill earlier this year. The legislation is named after the prominent civil rights activist and late Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), who died in 2020 at the age of 80. Their remarks are scheduled to begin at 12 p.m. EDT. Watch the live video above.
Yahoo
24-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Federal Funds for Local Obedience: Immigration Clause Puts Dems in Bind
A little-noticed provision in the "Big Beautiful Bill" forces blue states and cities to make a tough choice: Comply with federal immigration law or lose federal money for criminal justice aid. President Trumps signature piece of legislation allocated $3.3 billion to the DOJ, some of which will go toward the Byrne-JAG Grant Program, a federal initiative created in 2005 which provides support for local law enforcement and criminal justice efforts. To access the new funds, which supplement the $499 million already appropriated for the Byrne-JAG program in 2025, localities must comply with a section of federal immigration law that forbids them from restricting communication between their law enforcement entities and the Department of Homeland Security regarding an individuals immigration status. This provides an incentive for localities to share their information with federal immigration authorities, helping the Trump administration implement its immigration enforcement agenda, but it also runs the risk of misallocating federal support. This condition poses a dilemma for Democrats: Do they accept the demands of the Trump administration in return for money they need to run their cities and localities? Or do they maintain their longstanding opposition to deportation and turn it down? Across the country, Democratic Party leaders are competing to be the face of opposition to the Trump administration. California Gov. Gavin Newsom has tried to position himself as one of the leaders of the opposition to President Trump. New York City Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani has called himself "Donald Trumps worst nightmare" and has stated that "I will not be working with the [Trump] administration on harming the people that I look to represent." But sticking with this position means their constituents wont benefit from the additional funding that other localities will be able to use to lower their local fiscal burden and make their communities safer. In effect, millions of dollars in federal justice system aid could flow to low-crime, less liberal suburbs and rural areas, while high-crime cities are left behind for defying federal immigration demands. Specifically, cities like Baltimore, Detroit, and Memphis, which lead the nation in homicide rates, could be prevented from receiving funding. In a statement to RealClearPolitics, Sen. Dick Durbin, ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, argued that "Putting unnecessary stipulations on this funding is harmful and unproductive." "Blocking funds for this purpose," Durbin continued, "totally misses the mark." In response, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson argued that "If Dick Durbin is truly focused on the safety and security of American communities, he should encourage cities and states to comply with federal immigration laws. Sanctuary cities only provide sanctuary to illegal criminals, and Americans - like the CBP agent who was just shot in the face by two criminal illegal aliens - are forced to pay the price." This is not the first time Washington has used federal funds to influence local policies. In the 1980s, for example, the Reagan administration withheld highway funds to pressure states to raise their drinking ages. This policy was successful. Today, all 50 states require people to be 21 in order to purchase alcoholic beverages. This situation could be different. Many big-city law enforcement leaders have resisted becoming involved in federal immigration efforts. As former LAPD Chief Charlie Beck once stated, "We are not immigration agents. We are police officers." Similar sentiment has been echoed in other progressive-led cities where local officials argue that cooperation with ICE undermines trust between police and immigrant communities. Additionally, many local leaders may see this as an attempt to impede state and local rights by imposing a federal policy that is unpopular with their constituents. David Pitts, vice president for the Justice and Safety Division of the Urban Institute, emphasized the difficulty of this decision. "If they adhere to these immigration focused requirements, then what would they be giving up? Sometimes," Pitts continued, "the funds can be used to hire additional police officers. Oftentimes, its used to purchase access to technology. … It is likely that if [cities with higher crime] dont get that funding, the funding will go to rural areas that dont need it." Still, according to Pitt, "it remains to be seen exactly how that will play out." The debate also reveals a striking role reversal: Republicans, longtime defenders of states rights and local control, are using federal purse strings to enforce top-down immigration policy. Democrats, meanwhile, are pushing back against what they view as federal overreach. The first Trump administration also attempted to tie Byrne-JAG grants to compliance with federal immigration law in 2017. At the time, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that such restrictions were not within the power of the executive branch (City of Chicago v. Sessions). Now, the Department of Justice has explicit congressional authorization to make the grant conditional, creating a more favorable legal landscape for the Trump administration. James Eustis is an intern at RealClearPolitics. He studies politics at Washington & Lee University.
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Editorial: Cook County Democrats got it right by staying neutral
With Sen. Dick Durbin stepping aside after nearly three decades in the U.S. Senate, Democratic Party leaders in Cook County have wisely chosen not to anoint a favorite in the crowded Democratic primary. Illinois voters deserve a Democratic primary without heavy‑handed meddling. So Cook County Democrats made the right call by staying neutral. A neutral stance can prevent the kind of backroom deals that turn off voters and depress turnout. Across the country, voters are showing impatience with party insiders angling to pick winners long before ballots are cast. We're glad the Democratic powers that be decided — albeit, not unanimously — that this momentous occasion should be left to the people, despite immense pressure from Gov. JB Pritzker to back his former lieutenant governor for the seat. While we believe the governor is within his rights to endorse anyone he pleases and even to put some of his personal billions to work for that candidate, we've also said we believe Pritzker should resist the urge to put his thumb on the scale. While he'd certainly love to lock in a key ally as Durbin's inevitable successor, the people deserve a fair, competitive race. Pritzker's preferred candidate, Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, has served as lieutenant governor since 2019 and previously served in the Illinois House, giving her statewide visibility and legislative experience. U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly, a former state legislator and statewide officeholder, has represented Illinois in Congress since 2013 and brings deep ties to the party's establishment. And U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, in Congress since 2017, is a prolific fundraiser with a strong suburban base and support from prominent Latino and downstate leaders. That's the hot state of play at present but the primary won't take place until March. We'll have plenty more to say about this race before that. And America could well be in a different place by then. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@ Solve the daily Crossword
Chicago Tribune
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Editorial: Cook County Democrats got it right by staying neutral
With Sen. Dick Durbin stepping aside after nearly three decades in the U.S. Senate, Democratic Party leaders in Cook County have wisely chosen not to anoint a favorite in the crowded Democratic primary. Illinois voters deserve a Democratic primary without heavy‑handed meddling. So Cook County Democrats made the right call by staying neutral. A neutral stance can prevent the kind of backroom deals that turn off voters and depress turnout. Across the country, voters are showing impatience with party insiders angling to pick winners long before ballots are cast. We're glad the Democratic powers that be decided — albeit, not unanimously — that this momentous occasion should be left to the people, despite immense pressure from Gov. JB Pritzker to back his former lieutenant governor for the seat. While we believe the governor is within his rights to endorse anyone he pleases and even to put some of his personal billions to work for that candidate, we've also said we believe Pritzker should resist the urge to put his thumb on the scale. While he'd certainly love to lock in a key ally as Durbin's inevitable successor, the people deserve a fair, competitive race. Pritzker's preferred candidate, Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, has served as lieutenant governor since 2019 and previously served in the Illinois House, giving her statewide visibility and legislative experience. U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly, a former state legislator and statewide officeholder, has represented Illinois in Congress since 2013 and brings deep ties to the party's establishment. And U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, in Congress since 2017, is a prolific fundraiser with a strong suburban base and support from prominent Latino and downstate leaders. That's the hot state of play at present but the primary won't take place until March. We'll have plenty more to say about this race before that. And America could well be in a different place by then.
