* Press release…
State Representative Eva-Dina Delgado of Illinois’ 3rd District will not support Speaker Madigan for re- election.
Representative Delgado issued the following statement today:
“The ongoing allegations surrounding Speaker Madigan have become a distraction from the important work before us during these unprecedented times. Therefore, I will not be supporting Speaker Madigan in his run for reelection as the Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives. Our state has some serious issues to address and now is the time for new leadership.”
You will recall that Speaker Madigan warned he would initiate proceedings to kick Delgado out of the House if she was appointed to the seat earlier this year. That effort went nowhere, and now Madigan himself is facing the same sort of process.
* Here’s the updated list of dissident House Democrats so far…
Jonathan Carroll
Kelly Cassidy
Deb Conroy
Margaret Croke
Eva-Dina Delgado
Daniel Didech
Robyn Gabel
Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz
Will Guzzardi
Terra Costa Howard
Stephanie Kifowit
Lindsey LaPointe
Anna Moeller
Bob Morgan
Anne Stava-Murray
Maurice West
Ann M. Williams
Sam Yingling
- Nick - Friday, Nov 20, 20 @ 9:28 am:
There are really only two questions now
How many more by Monday
And how long does Madigan let this go on before he finally concedes to reality
- Arsenal - Friday, Nov 20, 20 @ 9:29 am:
Kinda feel like the Rebel Alliance needs a few more members of the black caucus to flip to really pull this off cleanly.
But as this whip count approaches 20, the chances of Madigan getting enough back approach zero.
- Just Me 2 - Friday, Nov 20, 20 @ 9:32 am:
Until someone else announces they are running this just a fun party game.
- Altgelds Ghost - Friday, Nov 20, 20 @ 9:33 am:
The real question is does the combine pick the new Speaker or will a full colonic be administered to the House and a new paradigm emerge?
- Levois J - Friday, Nov 20, 20 @ 9:34 am:
Well, who’s going to replace him if they won’t vote for him. Who will have some of the same heft he has because no one will have the power he had been able to accumulate.
- We'll See - Friday, Nov 20, 20 @ 9:34 am:
Eighteen (and counting?) - how do like them apples
- Inverted Pyramid - Friday, Nov 20, 20 @ 9:36 am:
“You’re gonna need a bigger boat.”
–Chief Brody
- Precinct Captain - Friday, Nov 20, 20 @ 9:41 am:
A Latina/corporate utility lobbyist. Quite a diverse crowd being built. Now only 89% white, non-Hispanic. And with the reform of, um, a revolving door of utilities that fleece customers?
- OneMan - Friday, Nov 20, 20 @ 9:41 am:
So with it being Friday and the concept of the Friday news dump what is…
The over/under on ‘will not support’ by 5 PM I will say 21?
The odds on Madigan announcing he will not run for another term as Speaker?
- Toofunny - Friday, Nov 20, 20 @ 9:44 am:
What ever happened to the guy under indictment that gave her his seat? Lol Illinois
- TheInvisibleMan - Friday, Nov 20, 20 @ 9:45 am:
And Lindsey Graham said no court confirmations before an election.
People can say anything, the vote is what matters.
- 10th Ward - Friday, Nov 20, 20 @ 9:45 am:
this is entertaining, but as someone who knows MJM, well ONLY a very few KNOW MJM, and I am not one of them–he will never resign. He wants to see if these 18 hold their ground. Lots of time between now and the election of speaker in January. My understanding of the man is that he won’t step down. Ask his daughter…
- Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Friday, Nov 20, 20 @ 9:48 am:
Father Time is undefeated.
- fs - Friday, Nov 20, 20 @ 9:49 am:
Secretary Speaker (or would it be Speaker Secretary?) White could be interesting
- Rich Miller - Friday, Nov 20, 20 @ 9:50 am:
===Until someone else announces they are running this just a fun party game===
Wrong.
- Dave W - Friday, Nov 20, 20 @ 9:51 am:
Will the AFL-CIO step up the pressure on the detractors?
- Montrose - Friday, Nov 20, 20 @ 9:54 am:
*Until someone else announces they are running this just a fun party game.*
It’s not the chicken, it’s the egg. No viable candidate is stepping out until Madigan’s demise is unquestionable. The top candidates for the spot are folks not on this list of dissenters.
- Frank talks - Friday, Nov 20, 20 @ 10:02 am:
Two questions-
Is Delgado Team Chuy? If so that’s the first break from the alliance
Will AFL-CIO, Trial Lawyers, etc., see the writing on the wall and start figuring out who they will push towards taking over in the absence of Madigan?
- Stone Cold Steve Austin - Friday, Nov 20, 20 @ 10:06 am:
===Is Delgado Team Chuy?===
No
- Behind the Scenes - Friday, Nov 20, 20 @ 10:09 am:
Mr.Madigan controls two pretty powerful and well-monied political funds. I would suspect he will have a lot to say about who he hands the gavel to.
- walker - Friday, Nov 20, 20 @ 10:09 am:
Arsenal, I’m afraid we’re past the “cleanly” phase, however this plays out.
What we don’t need is for Democrats to help the GOP drive a wedge between white progressives and activists of color under the Dem tent. That’s been an emerging Republican national strategy.
- Lester Holt’s Mustache - Friday, Nov 20, 20 @ 10:14 am:
Forgive my ignorance, but does any of this actually prevent MJM from retaining his speaker post? Say these 18 dems vote “no” or “present”. Couldn’t gop caucus members help elect Madigan as speaker, and justify it as “dems must own Madigan’s behavior and we’re not going to let them hide behind the few members willing to stand up to him blah blah blah”? They’ve voted for MJM by acclamation in the past, and it would keep their golden goose alive for another two years.
- fs - Friday, Nov 20, 20 @ 10:19 am:
== Couldn’t gop caucus members help elect Madigan as speaker==
Why would they do that, when the possibility that nobody gets 60, and thus no Speaker (at least not from the House), would lead to chaos and embarrassment for the Dem caucus? You realize these votes will be on the record? Absolutely no chance any of them vote for Madigan.
- Swimdad13 - Friday, Nov 20, 20 @ 10:19 am:
The white smoke won’t come out of the chimney any time soon.
- Chatham Resident - Friday, Nov 20, 20 @ 10:24 am:
How much longer before Channel 17 (WAND), the Herald-Review, or anyone else in the Decatur media (or in Springfield) asks Rep. Scherer whether or not she will vote to reelect the Speaker in January?
- Nick - Friday, Nov 20, 20 @ 10:28 am:
A GOP caucus member voting for Madigan would be the height of career suicide. Full stop.
- Arsenal - Friday, Nov 20, 20 @ 10:35 am:
==Arsenal, I’m afraid we’re past the “cleanly” phase, however this plays out.==
Are we? My guess- nothing more than that, of course- is that most of the Elite 18 are just mad that he’s in the hot seat and that that keeps the House from getting anything else done. If I’m right, they’d probably pretty happily accept whoever is next in line. MJM himself is the problem.
- Marquee - Friday, Nov 20, 20 @ 10:36 am:
Rep Delgado is team Iris Martinez and Iris was one of the first elected Democrats to rightly call out Madigan this time last year
- Rich Miller - Friday, Nov 20, 20 @ 10:37 am:
===Rep Delgado is team Iris Martinez===
No.
She’s team Lori Lightfoot.
- Marquee - Friday, Nov 20, 20 @ 10:37 am:
The better question is whether GOP members would vote for the non-Madigan Democrat to get rid of Madigan, or whether they sit back and watch their opponents eat themselves alive
- Marquee - Friday, Nov 20, 20 @ 10:38 am:
Rich, very true, they are very close from serving on the Police Board together
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Nov 20, 20 @ 10:40 am:
=== The better question is whether GOP members would vote for the non-Madigan Democrat to get rid of Madigan===
The Democratic member of the House turning their back on 71 other Dems to side with Raunerites would fracture the HDem caucus.
What, is that new Speaker and conspirators going to caucus with Raunerites too?
With 71 other Dems, gonna give some committee chairs to Raunerites too?
Why empower the super minority?
You don’t.
- low level - Friday, Nov 20, 20 @ 10:45 am:
==Until someone else announces they are running this just a fun party game==
It’s actually quite the opposite. These members are saying they will not vote for Madigan no matter who the opponent winds up being the or emerges in 2nd place.
- Louis G Atsaves - Friday, Nov 20, 20 @ 10:57 am:
So if I am counting correctly, and based on the names posted in this article, and assuming further that their opposition is rock solid and will not waiver, 55 Democrats will vote for Madigan for Speaker of the House and 18 will not?
Sheesh.
- Oh, please.... - Friday, Nov 20, 20 @ 11:58 am:
Don’t forget that Delgado has been around the process for a long time in various capacities including staff roles - she wasn’t “sent” by anyone. She’s also savvy, thoughtful and quickly earning the respect of her colleagues.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Nov 20, 20 @ 11:58 am:
===55 Democrats will vote for Madigan ===
No.
Don’t assume the antis are all known. Maxwell made the same mistake.
- Lester Holt’s Mustache - Friday, Nov 20, 20 @ 1:29 pm:
== A GOP caucus member voting for Madigan would be the height of career suicide. Full stop.==
It’s happened nine times in the past, despite your claim:
https://will.illinois.edu/news/story/when-republicans-voted-for-speaker-madigan
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Nov 20, 20 @ 1:33 pm:
- Lester Holt’s Mustache -
Take out Daniels voting and Cross voting for Madigan and recompute.
Thanks.
Unless you meant it as snark, then you shoulda said…
“Geez, Louise, even Madigan refused to vote for himself. Madigan voted for Daniels a bunch of times.”
- bored now - Friday, Nov 20, 20 @ 1:38 pm:
is it a secret ballot?
- Lester Holt’s Mustache - Friday, Nov 20, 20 @ 2:37 pm:
== Unless you meant it as snark, ==
Not really snark, more like assuming ilgop willingness to go to great lengths to ensure “because Madigan” doesn’t die as a campaign issue. I think Candy Dogood referred to this as the “Trojan horse Republicans” scenario. You’ve been here long enough to know that I’ve been advocating for MJM’s ouster since before Pritzker was elected, so probably just paranoia on my part that dems will never be able to destroy Madigan’s seventh horcrux.
- low level - Friday, Nov 20, 20 @ 2:37 pm:
== is it a secret ballot?==
Nope. No official action is by secret ballot. Your homework assignment is to read the House Journals from any Odd number year January.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Nov 20, 20 @ 2:42 pm:
=== more like assuming ilgop willingness to go to great lengths to ensure “because Madigan” doesn’t die as a campaign issue.===
By voting for Madigan?
Thus makes zero sense, in any thought.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Nov 20, 20 @ 2:42 pm:
=== so probably just paranoia on my part that dems will never be able to destroy Madigan’s seventh horcrux.===
The 18+ hear ya.
Be well.
- low level - Friday, Nov 20, 20 @ 2:46 pm:
Lester- the acclaimatipn votes were largely before the “Because Madigan” era and Rauner’s all out war w MJM. Iirc, it was after Madigan made Saviano’s “support”’of Madigan for Speaker an issue in Skippy’s defeat that those acclaimation votes ended. Imagine that. MJM funded mailers that took Saviano to task by voting for .. Madigan. Madigan didn’t care, he just wanted Skip gone.
Skip didn’t help himself tho authorizing those billboards after Madigsn had made him a committee chair.
Anyway, you can forget any Republican House member now voting for Madigan for Speaker. It would mean the announcement of a primary challenge the next day. Surely, GOP House members are aware of that.
10 - 20 years ago it might not have meant such a challenge. These days it’s a guarantee.
- Frank talks - Friday, Nov 20, 20 @ 4:50 pm:
Doesn’t have the votes time to start counting if you’re a member with ambition and an organization