Illinois voters elected Richard Durbin to the U.S. Senate in 1996.  He served in the U.S. House for the 20th District of Illinois from 1983 to 1997.  Before his time in Congress, Durbin ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor.  He's also served as counsel to the Illinois Senate Judiciary Committee. He is the current Senate Assistant Majority Leader, also called the Whip.  Official Biography

Birthday: November 21, 1944

Committees: Appropriations; Judiciary; Rules and Administration

The Issues: See where Sen. Durbin stands on the issues.

Other: Catholic, Attorney, Married to Loretta.

Quote: "So 105 million Americans, one-third of our population, are currently insured through a government plan. I think it is a healthy thing. As long as the government plan we are talking about is trying to bring costs down and expand coverage so everybody has the benefit of health insurance, then I think it is a good thing to build into this system."