DeKALB — Democratic Senator Dick Durbin has won reelection as the Illinois’ U.S. senator, according to the Associated Press.  He has previously served as a senior United States Senator since he was first elected in 1996. 

Durbin has been the Democratic Whip since 2005, the second-highest position in the Democratic leadership in the U.S. Senate. The Whip is mainly responsible for counting heads and rounding up party members for votes, according to the Senate. They occasionally stand in for the majority or minority leaders in their absence.

Durbin is the convener of Illinois’ bipartisan congressional delegation, so he is responsible for bringing people together to address an issue, problem or opportunity, according to the Collaborative leaders network. 

He was elected to the U.S. Senate on Nov. 5, 1996, and re-elected in 2002, 2008 and 2014. 

Durbin sits on the Senate Judiciary, Appropriations, Agriculture and Rules Committees. He is the Ranking Member of the Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Immigration and the Appropriations Committee’s Defense Subcommittee, according to Durbin’s website.

Mail-in ballots have to be postmarked before or on Nov. 3 and must arrive by Nov. 17 to be counted.