Illinois House Democrats on Wednesday chose Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch to lead the chamber as Michael Madigan stepped aside from a job he d held for nearly 40 years.
Democratic Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch replaces Michael Madigan as speaker
Credit: AP
Illinois state Rep. La Shawn K. Ford, D-Chicago, left, talks with fellow state Rep. Emanuel Chris Welch, D-Hillside, during the lame-duck session for the Illinois House of Representatives held at the Bank of Springfield Center, Monday, Jan. 11, 2021, in Springfield, Ill. (Justin L. Fowler/The State Journal-Register via AP) Author: Associated Press Updated: 2:47 PM CST January 13, 2021
SPRINGFIELD, Ill The Illinois House on Wednesday elected its first Black speaker to replace the longest-serving legislative leader in modern U.S. history, picking Democratic Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch for the job and pushing aside Michael Madigan due to an ongoing bribery investigation.
Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch made history Wednesday by becoming the first Black person elected speaker of the Illinois House, succeeding Rep. Michael Madigan