UPDATED: Madigan Era Over, Welch Becomes New Illinois House Speaker
Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch (D-Hillside) was set to be elected as the first Black Illinois House Speaker Wednesday in Springfield. He succeeds longtime Speaker and political powerhouse Michael Madigan.
At the end of a lame duck session with an unprecedented focus on racial equity, the Illinois House of Representatives has chosen a Black man to lead the chamber for the first time in the state’s history.
UPDATE (12:15 P.M.):
Statement from Madigan:
“As I prepare to pass the Speaker’s gavel to a new generation of Democratic leadership, I want to thank the people of my district and the members of the House Democratic Caucus for the faith and trust they have placed in me over the years. I want to thank my staff for their hard work on behalf of every member of this caucus. It has been the honor of a lifetime to help bring people of different experiences and backgrounds together to serve our state.
“It is time for new leadership in the House. I wish all the best for Speaker-elect Welch as he begins a historic speakership. It is my sincere hope today that the caucus I leave to him and to all who will serve alongside him is stronger than when I began. And as I look at the large and diverse Democratic majority we have built—full of young leaders ready to continue moving our state forward, strong women and people of color, and members representing all parts of our state—I am confident Illinois remains in good hands.”
UPDATE (12:44 P.M.):
“As I thought through a million different scenarios driving down here Friday, I never thought this would be one,” said Rep. Mike Zalewski (D-Riverside) on the whirlwind 72 hours that unseated a longtime Illinois political powerhouse and anointed the state’s first Black Speaker of the House.
The storm took hold Sunday night when incumbent House Speaker Michael Madigan, who has led the House all but two years since 1983, fell 9 votes short of the 60 needed for re-election in a private caucus meeting. Madigan “suspended” his campaign Monday morning, and, according to Zalewski, released his supporters to another candidate.
Late Monday, the House Black Caucus drafted Welch to enter the race and Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Swansea) said he was “thinking about” a late entry into the race.
By Tuesday evening, all of the female candidates, including Rep. Ann Williams (D-Chicago), were out of the race, and Welch and Hoffman were in a showdown to the last minute.
Welch was unable to secure 60 votes early Wednesday morning or in another private caucus later Wednesday. But, Zalewski said Welch, Hoffman, and Williams sorted through final issues, and Welch received 69 votes in caucus before the 102nd General Assembly was sworn in shortly after noon at the makeshift House Chamber at the Bank of Springfield Center in Springfield.
Welch, 49, makes history as the first Black Speaker in Illinois. Two Black men have served as Senate President, Cecil Partee from 1975-1977 and Emil Jones, Jr. from 2003-2009.
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UPDATE (12:49 P.M.):
Both Speaker Welch (after he becomes Speaker) and House GOP Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) will speak to media following the inaugural ceremony.
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(UPDATE 2:27 P.M.):
Some quotes from Welch’s first speech as Speaker:
“Today will be the last time I talk about us as Democrats or Republicans. I’m going to talk about us being united. We’re going to work together to move this state forward.”
“We have to thank and acknowledge that our state would not be where it is today without Speaker Madigan. We have to acknowledge that fact. While our state has many problems, our schools are better, more children have access to health care, and our working class families can more easily live the American dream.”
“I believe we can open a new chapter in this great state where we can work together to help families who have lost jobs, access to employment, access to the unemployment office, and health care. We can work together to be sure every person, regardless of their race, religion, or sexual orientation are treated fairly in this great state.”
“2020 was terrible. In 2021, let’s commit to making it a bounce back year. We can do that here. We can help people when we stay focused. When we work together.”
“"We will need to work together to make difficult decisions, friends. Let’s get ready because we are going to have to make some difficult decisions to control spending while we protect our most vulnerable residents.”
“We meet the challenge of the moment by being united, not divided. We’re not Democrats and Republicans when we come to work. We’re going to be united, not divided. We remember our shared values, not the few differences that we can.”
“When I came to Springfield last Friday, it was not my ambition to be standing here. I can tell you that. My ambition was to help my constituents.”
“I’m not from downstate, and I’m not from Chicago,” Welch said. “I don’t necessarily fit in to any one place, given that during my time here, I’ve spent time trying to understand the needs of what each of you bring to this body. I’ve worked hard to improve the lives of all of our constituents. And I’ve worked hard to be a member who brings this body together, not tear this body apart.”
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UPDATE (4:47 P.M.):
Governor Pritzker statement.
“I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Representative Welch on his historic win as he becomes our state’s first Black Speaker of the House,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Speaker Welch has a record of championing legislation that has improved the lives of hard working Illinoisans, and I have enjoyed working with him to move our state forward. As Governor, I believe strongly that it is incumbent upon me to work with the General Assembly’s leaders who are chosen by their caucuses, and I look forward to continuing to work with Speaker Welch on our shared agenda.”
“I also want to recognize Speaker Madigan for his decades of service to the state of Illinois. Years from now, when historians focus on the legacy of the General Assemblies he has led, they will see beyond this chapter to the many achievements in the fight to lift up working families and those most in need, and they will especially acknowledge the necessary firewall that was built in the fight against Governor Rauner’s destructive agenda.
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This story will be updated.
