Contender to Replace Durbin as Senate Democrat Whip Is Pro-Abortion, Pro-LGBTQ

Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, a hard-core liberal, is seen by insiders as a leading contender to succeed the retiring Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois as the Senate Democratic whip in the next Congress.

Schatz has served in the Senate since December 2012 and currently serves in a party leadership role as the chief deputy whip.