He may be back in the minority in the U.S. Senate, but U..S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) isn’t giving up hope on certain issues heading into the new year.

Durbin mentions a new transportation bill as among the top priorities, saying new legislation will need to be passed by May. As for other issues, he’s hopeful that the new Republican majority will be willing to work with Democrats.

“I will try my best to be constructive and do everything I can to bring good jobs and business to Illinois, and to help working families who are struggling, trying to get by,” Durbin said.

Durbin has spent a little more than half his time in the Senate as part of the majority, most of it since 2007, when Democrats regained control of the upper chamber and he became the Majority Whip. Republicans were in the majority when he first came into office in 1997.

When a new U.S. Senate is seated, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) will find himself in the minority.

He has been there before – he says he likes the majority better – but in politics, these things happen. He characterizes the Democratic losses as a mix of rejection of President Obama, and good Republican candidates.

Durbin, re-elected on Tuesday, says he still wants to be the Democratic whip, and he believes the Senate map will be better for Democrats in 2016 than it was this year.

“The map puts more Republicans in a vulnerable position than this cycle. This cycle, there were many more Democrats, particularly in states the president didn’t carry, so it was a more challenging map this year. Next time around, it’s a friendlier map from a Democratic viewpoint,” he said.

Is the seat held by U.S. Sen. Mark S. Kirk (R-Ill.) a pickup opportunity?

“Well, that remains to be seen. Sen. Kirk hasn’t made it clear what his plans are,” Durbin said.