It’s been quite a whirlwind for the new Illinois Speaker of the House Chris Welch, as he’s received more than one thousand text messages from all over the country as well-wishers congratulate the state legislature’s first-ever Black Speaker. “I got a call from the very first Black Speaker of the House ever, from California,” he said. “We talked forever.”.
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Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan has suspended his campaign to lead his caucus after his own members denied him the necessary votes.
His decision to suspend his campaign came only after he received only 51 of the 60 necessary votes to retain his post, Capitol Fax first reported. Madigan, a Democrat, has been the speaker since 1997 and served in the role from 1983-1995, making him the longest-serving state house speaker in U.S. history.
“This is not a withdrawal,” Madigan said Monday morning. “I have suspended my campaign for speaker. As I have said many times in the past, I have always put the best interest of the House Democratic Caucus and our members first.”
Alexandra Silets | January 8, 2021 8:13 pm
Members of Illinois’ congressional delegation are calling for President Donald Trump’s removal after inciting his own supporters who stormed and looted the Capitol on Wednesday. Outspoken Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger, who called the events a “coup” attempt, wants the 25th Amendment invoked against Trump. Freshman Rep. Mary Miller is apologizing for saying that Hitler “got one thing right” during a rally before the riot in the Capitol. And with Georgia flipping blue, President-elect Joe Biden taps Illinois-native Merrick Garland as attorney general.
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Meanwhile, state lawmakers report to Springfield on Friday and are told to expect a long haul because Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan still doesn’t have the votes to secure speaker’s gavel. And the Rev. Michael Pfleger, a Catholic priest and activist, is removed from ministry as a 40-year-old accusation of abuse is investigated. He denies any w
Madigan suspends bid for House speaker post
John O’Connor Associated Press
Jan. 12, 2021
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Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan appears on the floor as the Illinois House of Representatives convenes Friday at the Bank of Springfield Center in Springfield. Madigan said Monday he was “suspending” his campaign for a 19th term in the leadership post.E. Jason Wambsgans | Chicago Tribune via AP
Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan said Monday he would suspend his campaign for a 19th term in the leadership post amid fading support from fellow Democrats, largely because of a federal bribery investigation that’s implicated him.
Madigan, the longest-serving leader of a legislative body in U.S. history, has thus far been unable to get a majority of votes from his caucus to remain speaker, but the statement he issued began: “This is not a withdrawal.”