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State Dems Elect Democratic National Committee Members

Senate President Don Harmon (L) and House Speaker Chris Welch (R) were both appointed to the Democratic National Committee. (Photo: Chicago Tribune)

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Illinois Democrats have selected seven insiders to serve on the Democratic National Committee.

The 34 members of the Illinois Democratic State Central Committee elected the DNC members to a term that begins following this summer’s Democratic National Convention.

Last week, State Democratic Party Chair Rep. Lisa Hernandez (D-Cicero) proposed making seats for the House Speaker and Senate President permanent, and the committee elected House Speaker Chris Welch and Senate President Don Harmon to the DNC Monday.

Congresswoman Robin Kelly (D-Matteson), Congresswoman Delia Ramirez (D-Chicago), former Senate President John Cullerton, State Central Committeewoman Kristina Zahorik, and former State Comptroller Dan Hynes earned the other five slots.

But, Brenden Moore of Lee Enterprises tweeted results Monday night that showed Kristina Zahorik, the final nominee, finished behind longtime Dick Durbin ally Bill Houlihan.

Houlihan actually finished fifth and Zahorik sixth, but Zahorik was picked because the state party demanded at least three women be elected to the seven state Dem slots.

Republicans choose their RNC committeeman and committeewoman at their state party convention at the end of the month. We told you the race for committeeman and committeewoman are heavily pro-Trump and includes 2020 election deniers.

Patrick Pfingsten

@pfingstenshow

patrick@theillinoize.com