* Sun-Times…
The Latinx Caucus will endorse Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch as the next speaker of the Illinois House on Tuesday, a day after the Black Caucus chose the Hillside Democrat as its candidate, sources told the Chicago Sun-Times.
Three sources — one of them within the House Latinx Caucus — confirmed the decision.
With the Black Caucus’ backing potentially providing 22 votes, and all nine Latinx Caucus members endorsing Welch, he could have 31 of the 60 votes needed to become speaker.
* Press release…
Today, Rep. Stephanie Kifowit withdrew her name from consideration for Illinois Speaker of the House, and issued the following statement:
“On October 1, I stood up and announced my intention to run for Speaker of the House in Illinois’s 102nd General Assembly, at a time when it was assumed that Speaker Madigan would easily retain his speakership. I believed then, as I do now, that our caucus deserved a choice for new leadership in the State of Illinois.
“With additional individuals entering this race yesterday, it is clear that I do not have a path to 60 votes — but I am encouraged and energized by the fact that the caucus has a real choice in candidates for Speaker for the first time in 38 years. I am excited for the state of Illinois, and I look forward to serving in the 102nd General Assembly under new leadership”.
She deserves a lot of credit for sticking her neck out there when nobody else would.
This post will be updated. I think they’re getting close to a vote. But the results will likely be on its own separate post.
* Profiles in courage…
*** UPDATE *** Rep. Ann Williams has just dropped out of the race, I’m told. Also being told she will vote “Present” during the roll call.
- NIU Grad - Tuesday, Jan 12, 21 @ 7:03 pm:
“She deserves a lot of credit for sticking her neck out there when nobody else would.”
So many people in the comments here were mocking her for running because she didn’t have the path to 60 votes. She was the first one to step up and challenge the Speaker. That deserves so much credit because of how unprecedented it is in this state.
- Nick - Tuesday, Jan 12, 21 @ 7:03 pm:
Smart money seems to be on Welch, then.
- John Lopez - Tuesday, Jan 12, 21 @ 7:05 pm:
Deals have been cut. It’ll either be Madigan or Madigan’s guy and Rita Mayfield will be right, one way or other.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jan 12, 21 @ 7:07 pm:
=== It’ll either be Madigan===
This is why taking you seriously is folly.
The count now is 24 “no to Madigan”
- Ok - Tuesday, Jan 12, 21 @ 7:11 pm:
I bet Harmon is making calls for Welch, too, knowing how fragile his caucus hold might be next time around.
- Ok - Tuesday, Jan 12, 21 @ 7:15 pm:
If Welch can figure out a deal with the never Madigans, this could be over tonight. But with all the hub-bub today, it most likely has to be a very strong deal.
- Carl the Truth - Tuesday, Jan 12, 21 @ 7:20 pm:
Given Welch’s baggage, including his ties to people indicted for corruption, the good government folks can never vote for him - so Morgan, Didech, Carroll, Gabel, etc are our - unless they want to be voted out.
- Realtalk - Tuesday, Jan 12, 21 @ 7:27 pm:
Carl—// Get Real. A vote for Welch will not hurt anyone of them.
- Mimi - Tuesday, Jan 12, 21 @ 7:34 pm:
Was there ever any doubt that the Latinx caucus would not do what Madigan wanted? So this is black caucus (who Madigan wants) plus latinx caucus (who Madigan wants). So what do the original 19 get out of it?
- Anonanonsir - Tuesday, Jan 12, 21 @ 7:36 pm:
==She deserves a lot of credit for sticking her neck out there when nobody else would.==
She sure does. Mark me down as a fan.
==the good government folks can never vote for him==
Yeah I wonder about the Women’s Caucus and progressives.
- hisgirlfriday - Tuesday, Jan 12, 21 @ 7:37 pm:
It would be nice to have a female Speaker when it was the women of the caucus who stepped up and created the bloc to force MJM out but if Rep. Welch prevents a former Blagojevich floor leader from being Speaker sign me up.
- Lincoln Lad - Tuesday, Jan 12, 21 @ 7:39 pm:
Looks like Welch to me. That’s not Madigan. Is it? LOL
- Amalia - Tuesday, Jan 12, 21 @ 7:40 pm:
Allegations surrounding Welch, both topics, are too troubling to move forward. Not the best we can do.
- John Lopez - Tuesday, Jan 12, 21 @ 7:41 pm:
OW, Welch = Madigan, so don’t be afraid I am right. And opinions vary on taking me seriously.
- Pizza Man - Tuesday, Jan 12, 21 @ 7:42 pm:
Reps. Hoffman and Cassidy when will you be throwing your hats in the ring??? tick-tock
- Roger Abbott - Tuesday, Jan 12, 21 @ 7:45 pm:
When the Gang of 19 come out publicly for Welch, which I haven’t seen evidence of that happening yet, I’ll pop the champagne for him. Until then, I don’t share the view that he’s the guy.
- Pizza Man - Tuesday, Jan 12, 21 @ 7:46 pm:
Thank you, Anonymous. In agreement.
- Lincoln Lad - Tuesday, Jan 12, 21 @ 7:48 pm:
Not necessarily my opinion, BUT
If the victim chose not to pursue charges, can the rest of us convict him?
I’m not sure…
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jan 12, 21 @ 7:50 pm:
===… Welch = Madigan…===
Then your beef is with the Black Caucus not me.
- John Lopez - Tuesday, Jan 12, 21 @ 7:53 pm:
Nah, my beef isn’t with black caucus. I predicted one way or other, Madigan will be in control, and someone predicted a “Plan B”. Goes back to Rita Mayfield from Sunday, that was giveaway.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jan 12, 21 @ 7:56 pm:
=== I predicted one way or other, Madigan will be in control===
I guess when you believe the myths of Trump, believing the Madigan boogeyman is part and parcel too… lol
- Roger Abbott - Tuesday, Jan 12, 21 @ 7:57 pm:
@Lincoln Lad
Sounds like it’s your opinion to me. You have no clue about the #MeToo movement or what abused women go through. If he indeed did these things, it’s the act of having done it, not whether we “find him guilty” that’s terrible.
- Nick - Tuesday, Jan 12, 21 @ 8:00 pm:
Welch it is
- RealRecognizeReal - Tuesday, Jan 12, 21 @ 8:01 pm:
I’m just going to say it….Mary Flowers for Speaker.
- Americal - Tuesday, Jan 12, 21 @ 8:10 pm:
This old infantryman thanks Rep. Kifowit for leading this charge, and notes that it is often the Marines who hit the beach first.
- Been There - Tuesday, Jan 12, 21 @ 8:10 pm:
I wonder who Madigan will vote for? or present?
- Original Rambler - Tuesday, Jan 12, 21 @ 8:11 pm:
My guess is Hoffman just trying to get some leverage here.
- Overlord - Tuesday, Jan 12, 21 @ 8:11 pm:
Rep. Kifowit does deserve some credit to have the guts to do what no one else would. Rep. Scherer not so much.
- Birds on the Bat - Tuesday, Jan 12, 21 @ 8:14 pm:
With all the baggage, dems still going with Welch. Wow. Very Illinois of the dems. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jan 12, 21 @ 8:20 pm:
- Birds on the Bat -
Don’t you support Donald Trump?
To the update(s)
Oppo research on himself would’ve indicated that if you attempt to fly to the sun with wax wings the sun and sunshine makes flight difficult.
It’ll come down to who can get 60. Obviously. How much peeling off and to whom they decide to support is the drama.
- Carl The Truth - Tuesday, Jan 12, 21 @ 8:25 pm:
Welch can’t get the 19 because of his baggage. He literally had a corrupt felon as part of his district office. The 19 claim to be do-gooders. While they can get away with a lot, their constituents will not stand for that.
- Yalp - Tuesday, Jan 12, 21 @ 8:37 pm:
Spare me the applause for the people who stood by while MJM ruled the roost with nary a peep. It does not take courage to stand up and do the right thing when the feds are crawling all over the building.
- Birds on the Bat - Tuesday, Jan 12, 21 @ 8:40 pm:
Don’t you support Donald Trump?
There you go assuming again. What is it you say about living rent free in your head? Keep deflecting from the issue at hand though. It’s what you do best.
- Lincoln Lad - Tuesday, Jan 12, 21 @ 9:26 pm:
- Roger Abbott
Not my opinion- but a question. I don’t have an opinion - don’t feel like I know enough to form one.
- 4women - Wednesday, Jan 13, 21 @ 7:45 am:
So let me get this straight… three women stand up and put themselves on the chopping block, which they had the right to do since women make up the majority of the Dem caucus. But they can’t get the votes because the men won’t vote for them. In the blink of an eye, all of a sudden, the votes are seamlessly there for a man.
It is not the women’s fault that they don’t have the votes, but I am disappointed they didn’t fight harder and longer. my god, push back. Demand an entire leadership team made of just women.
The Democratic Women need to get their stuff together, and have a voting bloc like the Black Caucus and Latino Caucus. Until they do that, no one is taking the caucus seriously.
- anon2 - Wednesday, Jan 13, 21 @ 2:42 pm:
== What do the original 19 get out of it? ==
Are any of the Profiles in Courage in the leadership team?