Sources: Willis May Announce Run for Speaker as Early as Wednesday
Rep. Kathleen Willis (D-Addison), who may challenge House Speaker Michael Madigan for the Speaker’s gavel.
Multiple House Democrats tell The Illinoize State Representative Kathleen Willis (D-Addison) is expected to announce her candidacy for Speaker of the House as early as Wednesday.
Willis, 58, was elected to the House in 2012 and was the first member of Madigan’s leadership team to defect from the embattled Speaker’s campaign for another term leading the chamber. She is one of 19 Democrats who has said she would not vote for Madigan for Speaker.
Madigan still appears to have the majority of votes in the horserace for Speaker, with an expected 73 votes in the Democratic caucus when members are sworn in January 13, though he is short of the 60 necessary votes to win the Speakership.
Willis may be attempting to bridge the gap between the 19 holdouts and a group of undecided lawmakers, which, we’re told, could still number in the dozens. Both the House Black Caucus and the House Latinx Caucus have endorsed Madigan.
Rep. Stephanie Kifowit (D-Oswego) has also announced her candidacy for Speaker, but has yet to unveil any endorsements.
Some Democrats have told us Willis is a well-liked figure in the Democratic caucus, but it isn’t clear if she has the fundraising prowess or policy chops to help build a coalition under immense pressure and a looming deadline.
Willis did not return a message from The Illinoize Monday.
