Updated 1/12/2021 11:44 PM
SPRINGFIELD State Rep. Emanuel Chris Welch gathered crucial support in his bid to be the next speaker of the Illinois House on Tuesday, picking up backing from the Latinx Caucus and seeing two of his rivals exit the race.
In a vote late Tuesday, 50 House Democrats voted for Welch for speaker, and 15 chose downstate state Rep. Jay Hoffman, sources told the Chicago Sun-Times. Another eight voted present.
Sixty votes are needed to become speaker a crucial threshold that decadeslong incumbent Mike Madigan could not meet, a signal of the Southwest Side Democrat s waning power.
The support for Welch from Hispanic legislators comes a day after the Black Caucus chose the Hillside Democrat as its candidate, sources told the Chicago Sun-Times.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch is the top candidate to take the gavel for the Illinois House. The Hillside Democrat could become the first Black House Speaker in Illinois history if he gains 60 votes Wednesday. Welch gained traction as a candidate after longtime Speaker Mike Madigan announced he would suspend his campaign Monday.
Welch received support from 50 members during a caucus vote Tuesday night with Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Swansea) receiving 15 votes. Rep. Ann Williams (D-Chicago) and Rep. Stephanie Kifowit (D-Oswego) dropped out of the Speaker’s race Tuesday night. Rep. Kathleen Willis (D-Addison) ended her campaign for the post Monday night.
Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch made history Wednesday by becoming the first Black person elected speaker of the Illinois House, succeeding Rep. Michael Madigan
By Jerry Nowicki & Capitol News Illinois
• Jan 12, 2021
Rep. Emanuel Chris Welch, D-Hillside, (right) speaks to Rep. LaShawn Ford, D-Chicago, Monday on the floor of the Bank of Springfield Center, which is serving as the Illinois House chamber amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Members of the House Black Caucus backed Welch for speaker of the 102nd General Assembly Monday night.
Credit Justin Fowler, State Journal-Register
One day after state House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, announced a suspension – but not a withdrawal – of his campaign for another term as speaker, a state representative who has been accused of being a staunch Madigan protector has launched a bid for the post.
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Happy Tuesday, Illinois. We re off to another historic day in another historic year.
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President-elect Joe Biden and VP-elect Kamala Harris’ 2020 victory was confirmed Monday, and valiant health care workers started receiving coronavirus vaccines. But the greatest drama in Illinois unfolded during a special legislative hearing to examine whether House Speaker