( CNN ) -- First-term Illinois Republican Sen. Mark Kirk said `` no frickin ' way am I retiring '' in an interview with Roll Call published Friday morning , instead clearly signaling his intentions to run for reelection in 2016 . His statement comes amid speculation that his health and staff turnover might cause him to step down after his first term . His chief of staff Erik Elk has said he will join the private sector , while other top staffers have joined newly elected GOP Gov . Bruce Rauner 's team . And a debilitating stroke in 2012 has caused the senator to occasionally rely on a wheelchair . `` With all this rehab , for me just to walk was a huge effort , '' Kirk told Roll Call . `` I had to re-learn how to walk again after the stroke . And all the rehab and all the effort shows the mental determination times 10 to keep serving . '' But Kirk also said that attacks from the left highlighting his previous health problems might actually help his campaign efforts . `` That would not be taken well by the people of Illinois who would not like that kind of attack , '' he said . `` It 's the only way that Democrats can win in Illinois , is to say , 'Oh , Kirk has health problems , he 's going to retire . ' '' Illinois , typically a deep blue state , will likely be a top target for Democrats in 2016 looking to regain Senate seats after suffering big losses across the country earlier this month . The Chicago Sun-Times reports that his campaign fund raised more than $ 2 million since 2013 .
Illinois GOP Sen. Kirk says he 'll run for reelection in 2016 , despite previous health problems . His seat will likely be a target for Democrats looking to take back a seat in the blue state . Democratic Rep. Tammy Duckworth is rumored to be considering a challenge .