Steans to Resign from Senate, Rep. Cassidy Likely Replacement
Sen. Heather Steans (D-Chicago) announced she will resign from the Senate January 31.
State Senator Heather Steans (D-Chicago), a respected lawmaker who ushered through gay marriage and marijuana legalization, announced Tuesday she’ll be resigning from the Senate at the end of January.
“It’s been the privilege of a lifetime to represent the most diverse Senate district in the State of Illinois,” Steans said in a release Tuesday. “I’ve benefited tremendously from the many perspectives of the people a I’ve represented. We’ve made great progress together, and now it’s time to pass the baton.”
Steans, 57, has served in the Senate since 2008. In her time in Springfield, Steans passed a bill that legalized gay marriage in Illinois and authored cannabis legalization legislation in 2019.
Steans and her husband, Leo Smith, bought a $4.35 million condo outside of her district in 2019.
Senate President Don Harmon praised Steans, calling her “a forceful advocate for progress and problem solving, who fearlessly tackled many of the biggest issues in our society and was always looking for her next challenge.”
Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago) has reportedly said she will seek to replace Steans. Cassidy did not return a message from The Illinoize Tuesday.
