* Press release…

Statement from members of IL House Democratic Caucus

SPRINGFIELD (Wednesday, November 4, 2026)—The following is a statement from 26 members of the Illinois State House Democratic Caucus:

“Over the course of the last few months, we have grown increasingly convinced that the House Democratic Caucus needs new leadership. We represent a broad spectrum of our caucus, and each have come to this decision for our own reasons. We look forward to a robust race for a new Speaker of the House.”

Signers include:

Rep. Diane Blair-Sherlock, 46th
Rep. Mary Beth Canty, 54th
Rep. Kelly Cassidy, 14th
Rep. Sharon Chung, 91st
Rep. Justin Cochran, 55th
Rep. Fred Crespo, 44th
Rep. Margaret DeLaRosa, 42nd
Rep. Eva-Dina Delgado, 3rd
Rep. Daniel Didech, 59th
Rep. Jessica Dixon Heitman, 97th
Rep. Mary Gill, 35th
Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz, 17th
Rep. Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar, 22nd
Rep. Barbara Hernandez, 50th
Rep. Lisa Hernandez, 2nd
Rep. Gregg Johnson, 72nd
Rep. Tracy Katz Muhl, 57th
Rep.-Elect Paul Kendrick, 12th
Rep. Natalie Manley, 98th
Rep. Joyce Mason, 61st
Rep. Bob Morgan, 58th
Rep. Michelle Mussman, 56th
Rep.-Elect Maria Peterson, 52nd
Rep. Anne Stava, 81st
Rep. Katie Stuart, 112nd
Rep. Larry Walsh, Jr., 86th

To put this into context, Speaker Welch cannot pick up enough seats to overcome that 26-vote deficit.

And Heitman, Peterson, Kendrick are all newbies.