SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - The Illinois House on Wednesday elected its first Black speaker to replace the longest-serving legislative leader in modern U.S. history
3 months ago in Local Photo: Saga Communications
New Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside) spoke of a new day in Illinois during Wednesday’s inauguration.
Welch, who garnered 70 of 73 Illinois House Democratic votes, is the first Black person to become speaker. This comes as #MeToo and bribery scandals cost House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) much of his support, ending his reign after 18 two-year terms.
“Our politics force many people to see the issue as Black and white,” Welch said in his acceptance speech, “as opposed to human being to human being.”
On the floor of the Bank of Springfield Center, House Minority Leader Jim Durkin (pictured) (R-Western Springs) brought up Madigan’s legacy to catcalls.
Normal, IL, USA / www.cities929.com
Jan 13, 2021 4:41 PM
(The Center Square) – New Illinois House Speaker Emmanuel “Chris” Welch is the first Black speaker in Illinois House history, taking the gavel away from Michael Madigan, the state s most powerful politician.
Until Wednesday, Madigan held the spot for all but two years since 1983. In a statement closing out the 101st General Assembly, his last as Speaker of the House, Madigan wished Welch “all the best.”
“It is my sincere hope today that the caucus I leave to him and to all who will serve alongside him is stronger than when I began,” Madigan said.
(The Center Square) – For the first time in decades, there’s a new speaker of the Illinois House and he’s making history. But he also comes in under a cloud of recently revealed allegations of abusive behavior from year.
“Today will be the last time I talk about us as Democrats or Republicans because I want to talk about us being united,” Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch said.