Now-former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan reading to school children in a pre-pandemic photo on his website. The House voted on Jan. 13 to replace him with its first Black speaker. | madiganforus.com/
Now-former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan reading to school children in a pre-pandemic photo on his website. The House voted on Jan. 13 to replace him with its first Black speaker. | madiganforus.com/
Just days before now-former House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) was ousted as speaker, he tried to retain his power by challenging Democrats to find someone else for the top political job.
"This is not a withdrawal," Madigan said in a recent statement before legislators elected a new speaker on Jan. 13. "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. The House Democratic Caucus can work to find someone, other than me, to get 60 votes for speaker."
Madigan's comments came after falling short by nine votes of the 60 required for him to remain in the speaker's chair during closed-door balloting by the House Democratic Caucus.
Madigan was elected to the Illinois House in 1971. He has been house speaker, except for two years, since 1983. In addition to being the longest-serving House speaker in the nation's history, Madigan also chair's Illinois' Democrat Party.
Madigan may not even mean it but, instead, might be trying to teach the caucus a lesson about how important he remains.
"By stepping aside, albeit temporarily, Madigan may be aiming to show the fractured caucus that no one else can muster the necessary support," the Chicago Tribune said in a news story published before the vote.
Who might be able to get 60 votes out of the Democratic caucus isn't clear. With the new General Assembly scheduled to be inaugurated
At the time, it wasn't clear who had the edge to replace Madigan. During the Democrat Party's vote, contender Rep. Ann Williams (D-Chicago) received 18 votes.
Rep. Kathy Willis (D-Northlake) ended her bid for House Speaker and endorsed Williams.
"I felt that Rep. Williams shared the same vision I had for the caucus," Willis said in her own statement. "I felt I needed to put the needs of the caucus ahead of my personal needs. To promote caucus unity, I asked my supporters to join me in supporting her for speaker."
On Jan. 13, the Illinois House voted to replace Madigan with Emanuel "Chris" Welch (D-Hillside), making him the first Black person to hold the position.
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