UPDATED: Welch Running for Speaker, Hoffman "Thinking About It"
Three members of the House Black Caucus confirmed Monday night the group has gotten behind Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch (D-Hillside) as the bloc’s new candidate for Speaker of the House after Speaker Michael Madigan “suspended” his campaign earlier in the day.
Three members of the House Black Caucus told us late last night that Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch (D-Hillside) was, indeed, the choice of the group to run for Speaker and has unanimous support among the 22 members of the group. Welch walked past media last night without making a comment.
UPDATE (10:22 A.M.):
Welch issued a statement Tuesday morning:
“I am honored to be called upon my colleagues from the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus to put my name in for consideration. This historic moment in Illinois and across the country calls for new representation and unity of democratic beliefs.”
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Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Swansea) said he’s “thinking about” getting in the race, and said he would know more today.
Both men have become options after House Speaker Michael Madigan dropped a bomb yesterday morning, announcing he was “suspending” his campaign for re-election to the Speaker’s office, but wasn’t withdrawing from consideration.
Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Swansea)
House Democrats didn’t take any votes in their caucus yesterday, so today will be the first time they choose between four or, maybe, five candidates.
Welch will have the 22 votes of the House Black Caucus, which puts him ahead of Rep. Ann Williams (D-Chicago), who had 18 Sunday, but lost Rep. Maurice West (D-Rockford), who says he will support Welch.
“I’m really excited about what the future could be,” said West, who was born in 1985, two years after Speaker Madigan took control of the House. “Either way it goes, we’re going to be making history.”
Welch would be the first African American Illinois House Speaker. Williams would be the first woman.
Many of the original 19 anti-Madigan members are northside Chicago or suburban progressives, and its unclear how many of them Welch can bring along to his side. He’s close to Madigan as chair of the House Executive Committee, which is traditionally held by a trusted ally. Welch also chaired…and summarily shut down…the Special Investigative Committee formed to look into Madigan’s role in the ComEd bribery scandal.
Alaina Hampton, a former Madigan aide who sued after being sexually harassed by a Madigan aide, tweeted last night Welch was “Madigan 2.0.” That sort of thing doesn’t particularly endear you to the do-gooders.
“This isn’t going to be an easy process,” said Rep. Will Davis (D-Homewood), who will back Welch. “This is, by no means, easy at all. And I’m sure there’s a lot of pressure being experienced by [Rep. Welch], but I know he’s capable and he can handle it.”
Williams said last night she feels she has momentum and will continue to get votes today. Rep. Stephanie Kifowit (D-Oswego) did not answer questions