Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, takes the Oath of Office to become the House speaker for the 102nd General Assembly for the Illinois House of Representatives on Wednesday at the Bank of Springfield Center. (Credit: Justin L. Fowler of The State Journal-Register)
Historic victory ushers in new era of Black political power after fall of Michael Madigan
Crusader Staff Report
In a historic victory, State Representative Emanuel “Chris” Welch, a Democrat from Hillside, was elected Illinois’ first-ever Black House Speaker, ending the long era for veteran State Representative Michael Madigan, while ushering in a new chapter of Black political power in Springfield.
UpdatedWed, Jan 13, 2021 at 4:29 pm CT
Replies(41)
Illinois State Rep. Emanuel Chris Welch (D-Hillside) addresses the Illinois House of Representatives after his election as speaker Wednesday at the Bank of Springfield Center. (BlueRoomStream)
SPRINGFIELD, IL State Rep. Chris Welch (D-Hillside) replaced Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) as speaker of the Illinois House Wednesday, becoming the first Black person elected to the post in the chamber s history.
Madigan had held the speaker s gavel since 1983, apart from a two-year interregnum in the mid-1990s after Republicans won a majority. He was the longest-serving legislative leader in U.S. history, despite polls indicating he is deeply unpopular among voters who do not rely on his patronage or campaign fundraising apparatus.