Washington: US Senator Dick Durbin, the No. 2 Democrat in the Senate, has announced that he will not endorse any candidate to replace him after his decision not to seek reelection. Durbin, who has served in the Senate for five terms since 1996, made this announcement on Thursday. He stated that numerous potential candidates have expressed interest in his seat, seeking his blessing to run, but he has chosen to remain impartial, allowing Democratic voters to decide. According to Anadolu Agency, Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton became the first Democrat to announce her candidacy for Durbin's seat shortly after his announcement. Despite the growing list of potential candidates, Durbin emphasized his intention to stay neutral. "I'm not planning on endorsing any particular candidate. I hope I don't have to, but I'm not ruling out the possibility in an extreme case," he said, highlighting his belief in letting the voters decide the future representation for Illinois. Durbin, 80, has had a long and dis tinguished career in politics, initially elected to the House of Representatives in 1982, where he represented Springfield's 20th district. His decision not to seek another term marks the end of a significant era in Illinois politics, setting the stage for a competitive race among Democrats eager to fill his shoes.