Senate Democrats did themselves proud today. Richard Durbin (D-IL) will be the new Senate Minority Whip when the new Congress begins in January:

DURBIN STATEMENT REGARDING SENATE LEADERSHIP

[WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) made the following statement regarding the Senate Demaocratic leadership for the 109th Congress:

“I have spent the last few days talking with, and listening to, my Democratic colleagues in the Senate. In the course of those conversations we have discussed the direction in which we would like to see the Democratic Caucus move and what we would like to accomplish in the next few years.”

"As a result of those conversations, I have asked for my colleagues’ support to serve as Democratic Whip, the second spot in leadership, and now have more than a majority of members pledged to vote for me. I am deeply honored that my Senate colleagues are willing to entrust me with this responsibility. Our caucus is a diverse one, as is my home state of Illinois. I am confident that the lessons I have learned in working to address the broad range of concerns of my state will also help me in meeting the challenges of serving as Whip of this extraordinary Caucus.”