DemocratRichard J. Durbin
U.S. Senator · Illinois
U.S. Senator from Illinois
11 tracked promises, 6 rated
Illinois
Represents Illinois statewide
How they won their seat
Richard J. Durbin won the 2020 U.S. Senate election in Illinois with 54.9% of the vote (3,278,930 votes).
- Richard J. Durbin · Democrat54.9%3,278,930
- Mark C. Curran Jr. · Republican38.9%2,319,870
- Willie L. Wilson · Other4%237,699
- 5 Other Candidates2.2%132,402
Certified results. Source: MIT Election Data + Science Lab (MEDSL) ↗. A plurality winner can hold under 50% when more than two candidates run.
Inferred legislative agendas
Richard J. Durbin has sponsored multiple resolutions and bills related to gun violence awareness and the prohibition of assault weapons, such as SRES 799 and the bicameral Assault Weapons Ban of 2025. Additionally, he has addressed consumer finance through the Credit Card Competition Act and healthcare access with the Increasing Access to Lung Cancer Screening Act. Focus areas (from the record): Gun Policy · Consumer Protection · Healthcare · Voting Rights · Criminal Justice Reform Alignment with declared positions: Mixed. Durbin's sponsored bills are consistent with his declared positions on gun policy and consumer finance, as evidenced by the Assault Weapons Ban and the Credit Card Competition Act. However, there is limited evidence of sponsored legislation on immigration and reproductive rights. What this can't tell you: The record does not reveal the effectiveness of his sponsored bills or their reception in Congress; There is no information on his committee work or specific actions taken outside of sponsorship. Confidence: moderate (based on the volume of verified record on file).
Inferred, not stated. Richard J. Durbin has not necessarily stated these as goals. This is an AI-generated, nonpartisan reading of the patterns in their verified record — sponsored legislation, committee work, roll-call votes, and campaign-finance composition — and how those patterns compare to any declared positions and tracked promises. It describes what the record emphasizes, never imputes motive, and is run through an adversarial review pass that scrubs bias, loaded language, and any claim the evidence doesn’t support. It is not a quote, a claim they made, or a rating; every underlying item is sourced in the verified record below; and it never affects the Integrity Score.
Showing 2020. Every tile and chart below reflects this window; some record types (e.g. roll-call votes) only have data for recent years.
Activity in office
What Richard J. Durbin has actually done in office — sourced from official roll-call and government records, shown in full below. These are facts, separate from tracked promises and never folded into any score.
- Bills sponsored
- 32
Roll-call data last updated July 20, 2026 · source: Voteview.
Bills sponsored over time
Bills sponsored per year, stacked by outcome (latest action). Outcome data covers the 118th–119th Congresses; earlier years show as “awaiting status” until enriched. Source: Congress.gov.
Bill success rate
Bills SPONSORED in the 118th–119th Congresses, by their latest action. Source: Congress.gov.
Campaign finance over time
- Small-dollar (unitemized)$403K27%
- Large individual (itemized)$715K48%
- PAC / committee$364K25%
By election cycle. Source: FEC.
Committee memberships
- Member, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and ForestryOn record since Jan 2025Member
- Member, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry — Commodities, Derivatives, Risk Management, and TradeOn record since Jan 2025Member
- Member, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry — Livestock, Dairy, Poultry, and Food SafetyOn record since Jan 2025Member
- Member, Senate Committee on AppropriationsOn record since Jan 2025Member
- Member, Senate Committee on Appropriations — Department of DefenseOn record since Jan 2025Member
- Member, Senate Committee on Appropriations — Energy and Water DevelopmentOn record since Jan 2025Member
- Member, Senate Committee on Appropriations — Financial Services and General GovernmentOn record since Jan 2025Member
- Member, Senate Committee on Appropriations — Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related AgenciesOn record since Jan 2025Member
- Member, Senate Committee on Appropriations — State, Foreign Operations, and Related ProgramsOn record since Jan 2025Member
- Member, Senate Committee on Appropriations — Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related AgenciesOn record since Jan 2025Member
- Ranking Member, Senate Committee on the JudiciaryOn record since Jan 2025Ranking
- Ranking Member, Senate Committee on the Judiciary — Crime and CounterterrorismOn record since Jan 2025Ranking
Source: Congress.gov.
Integrity
Promises kept vs. worked against — weighted breakdown+81 · based on 6 rated promises
- Attempted 1
- Championed 2
- Fully Kept 3
Teal segments are promises kept; amber and stone segments are promises worked against. The signed score weights each rated promise by significance and evidence confidence. Promise-keeping is shown separately from popularity, finance, disclosure, and stated positions. Methodology is open.
Integrity over time
In office since Jan 2015 · 6 rated promisesEach step is a real change in the sourced record — the score holds between assessments.
Promise status over time
How the tracked promise record has evolved.
- Kept6
- Against0
- No opportunity0
- In progress0
Replayed from this official’s sourced assessment history — the bands step only when an assessment is recorded or changed. Based on the most recent roll-call votes on file and the tracked promise assessments; never interpolated.
Topic coverage
11 promises across 10 topicsWhat this record covers — the number of tracked promises per topic. This is coverage, not a verdict; the kept/against shading within each bar mirrors the Integrity breakdown above.
- Gun policy / assault weapons2
- Consumer finance / credit card swipe fees1
- Criminal justice reform / sentencing1
- Healthcare / Medicaid & drug prices1
- Immigration / Dreamers1
- LGBTQ+ civil rights1
- Press freedom / journalist shield law1
- Public service / remaining term1
- Reproductive rights1
- Voting rights1
Evidence & significance
Evidence quality
Strongest source cited per promise.
- Primary (official record)11100%
Significance mix
How weighty the tracked promises are (1 = minor, 5 = defining).
Significance weights each promise in the Integrity Score.
11 tracked promises
“Durbin pledged to keep fighting to pass the Dream Act, telling Dreamers he would work for their path to citizenship: "I promise to do everything in my power to fight for you and your future every day." He made the pledge while reintroducing the Dream Act of 2025 (with Sen. Murkowski), which would let undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children earn lawful permanent residence and eventual citizenship if they meet education, work, or military and background-check requirements.”
“Durbin committed to sponsor a renewed federal assault weapons ban: "That is why I am signing on to the bicameral Assault Weapons Ban of 2025, which would revitalize a nationwide ban on assault-style weapons and protect our communities from mass shootings." The bill would prohibit the sale, transfer, manufacture, and import of military-style assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.”
“Durbin committed to vote against the Republican SAVE Act, which would change voter-registration rules: "I will vote no on this attack on our sacred right to vote."”
“During a visit with health-care leaders in Springfield, Durbin committed to keep working against Medicaid cuts and high drug costs: "I'll continue fighting to protect Medicaid and lower the cost of prescription drugs for Illinoisans."”
“Announcing he would not seek re-election in 2026, Durbin committed to remaining fully active for the rest of his term: "I will do everything in my power to fight for Illinois and the future of our country every day of my remaining time in the Senate."”
“As a lead Senate sponsor of the PRESS Act (a federal journalist shield law protecting reporters from being compelled to reveal their sources), Durbin committed to keep advancing it: "I will continue to work with my colleagues to see this bill advance."”
“On the two-year anniversary of the Dobbs ruling, Durbin committed to use his Judiciary Committee chairmanship to spotlight post-Roe restrictions on reproductive health: "I'm committed, as Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee...to highlight how dangerous and extreme the reproductive health landscape has become for women and their loved ones."”
“Pressing to pass his Credit Card Competition Act (which would require large card-issuing banks to offer at least two network options to process credit transactions, aimed at the Visa-Mastercard duopoly), Durbin pledged to keep siding with consumers and merchants over the card industry: "I will always choose Main Street over Wall Street."”
“On introducing the Equality Act during Pride Month, Durbin committed to continue pushing the bill: "I will keep pushing for passage of the Equality Act to ensure that LGBTQ+ Americans are fully protected under our nation's civil rights laws."”
“After the EQUAL Act compromise (to eliminate the federal crack-vs-powder cocaine sentencing disparity) was left out of the 2022 omnibus, Durbin committed to keep advocating for it: "I will continue to work with Senator Booker in advocating for this historic legislation—legislation that will help reform our criminal justice system to better live up to the ideals of true justice and equality under the law."”
“In a Senate floor speech after the Highland Park mass shooting, Durbin committed to join the effort to ban assault weapons: "After Highland Park, count me in. I want to be on the record of saying it's time to put an end to these assault rifles, these weapons of war, which have sadly taken so many innocent lives..."”
Verified record
1,276 sponsored bills · finance on fileFacts imported directly from official government sources — shown separately from tracked promises and never folded into the Integrity Score. Each entry links to its primary source.
FEC 2026 cycle — raised $2,376,776, spent $2,476,789, cash on hand $0.
View the FEC filing ↗Sponsored legislation
- Sponsored S 4979: A bill to establish a process to assure the long-term fiscal stability of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund. ↗Jul 14, 2026
- Sponsored S 4955: A bill to amend the Act of May 17, 1954, to revise the boundary of Gateway Arch National Park. ↗Jul 13, 2026
- Sponsored SRES 799: A resolution expressing the condolences of the Senate and honoring the memory of the victims on the fourth anniversary of the mass shooting at the Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, Illinois, on July 4, 2022. ↗Jun 24, 2026
- Sponsored SRES 756: A resolution expressing support for the designation of June 5, 2026, as "National Gun Violence Awareness Day" and June 2026 as "National Gun Violence Awareness Month". ↗Jun 8, 2026
- Sponsored SRES 748: A resolution condemning the Department of Justice and Internal Revenue Service settlement agreement in Trump v. Internal Revenue Service, under which $1,776,000,000 in taxpayer money may be used to financially benefit individuals who assaulted law enforcement officers on January 6, 2021, and President Trump, his family, and his political allies. ↗May 21, 2026
- Sponsored S 4608: Federal Death Penalty Prohibition Act ↗May 20, 2026
- Sponsored S 4566: Increasing Access to Lung Cancer Screening Act ↗May 19, 2026
- Sponsored S 4541: Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program Act of 2026 ↗May 14, 2026
- Sponsored SRES 728: A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the President should prioritize securing the release of Pastor Jin Mingri, Pastor Gao Quanfu and his wife Pang Yu, Jimmy Lai, Dr. Gulshan Abbas, and Ekpar Asat detained by the People's Republic of China during future engagements with Chinese President Xi Jingping. ↗May 13, 2026
- Sponsored S 4515: Flood Mapping Modernization and Homeowner Empowerment Pilot Program Act of 2026 ↗May 13, 2026
- Sponsored S 4494: American Cures Act ↗May 12, 2026
- Sponsored SRES 721: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of Robert S. Mueller III and commending him for a life dedicated to public service and the defense of the democracy of the United States. ↗Apr 30, 2026
Showing the 12 most recent of 1,276 sponsored measures.
Voting record
- Total votes
- 858
- Yea
- 300
- Nay
- 534
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 24
Full voting record
858 votes- SJRES198Yea
- PN8518Nay
- PN9304Nay
- PN9304Nay
- S4784Nay
- PN9382Nay
- PN9303Nay
- SJRES185Yea
- PN9382Nay
- SJRES196Yea
- PN9303Nay
- PN9302Nay
- PN9302Nay
- PN9307Nay
- PN9307Nay
- HCONRES86Yea
- PN8593Nay
- HR6644Yea
- PN73033Not voting
- HR6644Not voting
Roll-call votes, 119th Congress. Source: Voteview (voteview.com). Click any vote to verify it independently.
Stated positions
10 positions on recordWhat this official says they believe — sourced claims, shown distinctly from tracked promises and from any assessment of what they did. A stated position is never scored and never affects the Integrity Score.
- Voting rightsStated position
Durbin committed to vote against the Republican SAVE Act, which would change voter-registration rules: "I will vote no on this attack on our sacred right to vote."
Sourceshttps://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-slams-republicans-save-america-actView position & sources → - Immigration / DreamersStated position
Durbin pledged to keep fighting to pass the Dream Act, telling Dreamers he would work for their path to citizenship: "I promise to do everything in my power to fight for you and your future every day." He made the pledge while reintroducing the Dream Act of 2025 (with Sen. Murkowski), which would let undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children earn lawful permanent residence and eventual citizenship if they meet education, work, or military and background-check requirements.
Sourceshttps://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-murkowski-introduce-the-dream-actView position & sources → - Healthcare / Medicaid & drug pricesStated position
During a visit with health-care leaders in Springfield, Durbin committed to keep working against Medicaid cuts and high drug costs: "I'll continue fighting to protect Medicaid and lower the cost of prescription drugs for Illinoisans."
Sourceshttps://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-joins-health-care-leaders-to-discuss-cost-of-prescription-drugs-and-republican-cuts-to-medicaidView position & sources → - Gun policy / assault weaponsStated position
Durbin committed to sponsor a renewed federal assault weapons ban: "That is why I am signing on to the bicameral Assault Weapons Ban of 2025, which would revitalize a nationwide ban on assault-style weapons and protect our communities from mass shootings." The bill would prohibit the sale, transfer, manufacture, and import of military-style assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.
Sourceshttps://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-duckworth-colleagues-reintroduce-assault-weapons-banView position & sources → - Public service / remaining termStated position
Announcing he would not seek re-election in 2026, Durbin committed to remaining fully active for the rest of his term: "I will do everything in my power to fight for Illinois and the future of our country every day of my remaining time in the Senate."
Sourceshttps://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-announces-he-will-not-seek-re-election-in-2026View position & sources → - Press freedom / journalist shield lawStated position
As a lead Senate sponsor of the PRESS Act (a federal journalist shield law protecting reporters from being compelled to reveal their sources), Durbin committed to keep advancing it: "I will continue to work with my colleagues to see this bill advance."
Sourceshttps://rollcall.com/2024/09/26/press-shield-reporters-sources-senate/View position & sources → - Reproductive rightsStated position
On the two-year anniversary of the Dobbs ruling, Durbin committed to use his Judiciary Committee chairmanship to spotlight post-Roe restrictions on reproductive health: "I'm committed, as Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee...to highlight how dangerous and extreme the reproductive health landscape has become for women and their loved ones."
Sourceshttps://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/on-the-two-year-anniversary-of-the-dobbs-ruling-durbin-recommits-to-protecting-womens-reproductive-freedomView position & sources → - Consumer finance / credit card swipe feesStated position
Pressing to pass his Credit Card Competition Act (which would require large card-issuing banks to offer at least two network options to process credit transactions, aimed at the Visa-Mastercard duopoly), Durbin pledged to keep siding with consumers and merchants over the card industry: "I will always choose Main Street over Wall Street."
Sourceshttps://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-urges-the-senate-to-bring-his-credit-card-competition-act-to-the-floor-for-a-voteView position & sources → - LGBTQ+ civil rightsStated position
On introducing the Equality Act during Pride Month, Durbin committed to continue pushing the bill: "I will keep pushing for passage of the Equality Act to ensure that LGBTQ+ Americans are fully protected under our nation's civil rights laws."
Sourceshttps://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/during-pride-month-durbin-and-duckworth-join-merkley-baldwin-booker-to-introduce-the-equality-actView position & sources → - Criminal justice reform / sentencingStated position
After the EQUAL Act compromise (to eliminate the federal crack-vs-powder cocaine sentencing disparity) was left out of the 2022 omnibus, Durbin committed to keep advocating for it: "I will continue to work with Senator Booker in advocating for this historic legislation—legislation that will help reform our criminal justice system to better live up to the ideals of true justice and equality under the law."
Sourceshttps://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-statement-on-exclusion-of-equal-act-compromise-in-omnibus-appropriations-bill-View position & sources →
Disclosure
A separate measure from the promise scorecard above. It tracks confirmed cases where this official has acted on or championed an issue that already existed when they ran, but which they did not disclose as a priority in their campaign. Each case meets a high evidence bar — three independent sources — and the score is shown alongside the Integrity Score, never merged into it. How this is measured.
No undisclosed priorities on record. This is not a clean-audit claim — it means none have been confirmed for this official.
Office context & community edits
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