WASHINGTON - Retired Sen. Dick Durbin is a second Democrat in the room for a year and a half, but Sen. Brian Schatz has gained recognition.

Since Durbin, 80, announced last week that he would not seek reelection in 2026, Hawaii's 52-year-old Schatz has been actively working behind the scenes to consolidate support for the Senate Democracy Whip, allowing important allies to talk to colleagues and get at least eight recognitions.

Others can still compete and become the Democratic Party’s highest voting right. Amy Klobuchar, 64, of Minnesota, is a former presidential candidate who was the third Senate Democrat and has not closed on a potential bid. And other 74-year-old Patty Murray of Washington, who has held various leadership positions for many years, is now the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee.

But Saudis hopes that gaining the situation will put him in the footsteps of other potential competitors to replace Dabin until after mid-2026. He obtained DN.J. Cory Booker, D-Ariz. Mark Kelly and D-Nev. Jacky Rosen's early recognition, they have been talking to other members about supporting him.

"Currently, we're doing this work, and I'm having a conversation with members," Shatz said in an interview Thursday. "I only have one view that when you realize you want to run, you can start."

Other Democrats supporting Schatz are John Fetterman of Pennsylvania; Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico; Raphael Warnock of Georgia; and Mazie Hirono of Hawaii along with Schatz.

“I support Brian Schatz,” Lujan said in an interview Thursday. “As long as I’ve been to the U.S. Senate, Brian has been acting as an agent in that capacity. He shared the message, he’s honest with his members, and I think he’s also earned the trust of his colleagues.

"No one has reached out to me yet," Luyan added. "To me, it sounds like he has extensive support throughout the process, and I think it's encouraging."

Warnock called Schatz a "effective leader" in a statement.

"I have confidence that as a whip he will continue to unify our core group and raise our common priorities," Warnock said.

The role of the whip is primarily to take away the pulsation of the senator of the caucus senator, ensuring that leaders know how to vote for plans to avoid misfortunes on the awkward floor, in which case bills or nominations can fail unexpectedly with thin edges.

The game is also crucial, as the winner can eventually be promoted to Democratic leaders in just a few years. Chuck Schumer, the current New York leader, is 74, and has served in leadership for the past two decades. Schumer will need to decide whether he runs for reelection in 2028 as he faces the heat of free bases, young Democrats calling for generations to pass on.

Leadership elections are held after closed doors and secret votes. To win the position, the senators need to get the support of a simple majority of Senate Democrats.

If Saats is to win, Saats will cross many Democrats in the leadership hierarchy. He is now the chief deputy whip under Durbin and the deputy secretary of the Democratic Conference.

If he wins, that will continue the trend, that there is no woman in the first two leadership positions of the Senate Democratic Caucus. Nevada's Catherine Cortez Masto serves as vice chairman of outreach and has not yet endorsed anyone as second place. But for Democrats, it is important to have women in some of the top leadership positions, she said.

"Listen, we'll have time to see this as a party," Cortez Masto said Thursday. “But I think there should be women in leadership positions at all levels.”

Klobuchar, chairman of the Democratic Turning and Policy Committee, is the highest woman in the party's Senate leadership. She won't be involved in whether she will run for the whip job, saying it's too early to talk about the game. But she was quick to point out that technically, she was next.

"I'm third in the Senate and my job is to focus on what policies will drive our country forward," Klobuchar said.

"The one thing I'm focusing on now is that Donald Trump has brought a better economy to the people of this country," she added. "And I really believe that talking about a year and a half from now on, we don't know who will win the Senate, who will get this, that's a mistake."

Former Hawaii Lieutenant Governor Schatz, who succeeded D-Hawaii Senator Daniel Inouye after his death in 2012, and named himself nationwide, turned to social media to slam Trump during his first term.

Schatz, in particular, was one of only 10 Democrats who voted on the Republican bill to avoid government funding to avoid closures this year, a move that has sparked sharp criticism from progressives.

His chief of staff, Reema Dodin, was formerly the floor director of Durbin's Whip office and an official in the Biden administration.

Dobern, who has been in Congress since 1982 and has been whipped in the Senate Democratic whip for the past two decades, said he has no plans to support anyone.

"I don't have any plans to endorse because I'm not going to vote in that game," he said.

When asked what characteristics he thought the next whip should have, Dubin joked: "Trying to imitate Dick Dubin's energy."

On Monday, Schumer praised his long-time representative Durbin, who had praised his political rival Durbin, who had been in the highest leadership position and former Capitol Hill roommate.

"Senator Durbin has left an indelible mark in the Senate, our caucus, Illinois and the entire United States. He has been the champion of justice and helped Senate Democrats confirm the number of federal judges in the last time Congress," Schumer said. "He has been a relentless advocate for Illinois families and people in need. He has been a close and trustworthy member of my leadership team."

When the reporter asked Thursday if he would approve of someone coming to replace Doberman, Schumer smiled: “Dick Durbin is a great, great whip.”