Durbin, in metro-east stop, laughs off governor talk — but doesn’t rule out a run

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin laughed off questions Thursday about whether he would run for governor of Illinois in 2018. But he also didn’t rule out the possibility.

“I’m not even speculating on that,” Durbin said after a ribbon-cutting Thursday for a new command center at Scott Air Force Base. “I have a great job.”

Durbin said he’s focused now on helping to bring resources such as the command center to local communitites.

“I’m focused on that,” he said. “I’m focused on this election. I’m not even focusing or speculating on the election two years away.”

Durbin said he “won’t get into that speculation” that he might run for governor. “I’m just not going to do it,” he said.

He added, “I didn’t seek it, but a lot of have suggested it. But it’s something I’m putting off to the side. I have an important job to do in Washington.”

At a stop later Thursday in Granite Ctiy, Durbin told a reporter: “It’s interesting to me, the speculation. I have not done any polling on this, and it seems to be the most interesting political topic for some.”

But he added: “I’ve got a lot more I can do for the state of Illinois as a senator. I’m honored to have this job. I'm not aspiring to any other position.”

Democrats and Durbin himself in recent weeks have fueled speculation about a gubernatorial run against Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner.

According to a recent report in Politico, Durbin has told his senior staff and his family that after the November election he will make a decision about whether he will run for governor.

“He said after the election he will sit down and seriously think about it,” said one anonymous source quoted by Politico. The publication described the source as someone privy to private discussions with party officials about the matter.

Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, who is chairman of the state Democratic Party, has confirmed that he has pushed for Durbin to run for governor.

“Senator Durbin and I talked about it a few months ago. … We talked about it,” Madigan told the Chicago Sun-Times in late July.

Durbin has told promoters of his prospective candidacy to “cool it” in the past.

Durbin, at the recent Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, told reporters, “Any governor of Illinois who tries to divide this state, southern Illinois versus Chicago, one section against the other, does a disservice to the people he represents.” Asked at that time whether he was considering running against Rauner, Durbin said he was focused on the November presidential election and would decide later on whether to seek the governor’s office.

This story was originally published August 11, 2016 at 1:07 PM with the headline "Durbin, in metro-east stop, laughs off governor talk — but doesn’t rule out a run."