FILE - In this May 25, 2016 file photo, Illinois Rep. Emanuel "Chris" Welch, D-Westchester, speaks to lawmakers at the Capitol in Springfield, Ill. Legislation before the Illinois House would replace school-based police officers with social workers. Rep. Welch is sponsoring the plan to address what proponents say is needless arrests of blacks and other minority students. A group called Voices of Youth in Chicago Education says police officers aren't equipped to handle behavioral health issues and commonly arrest students for non-violent behavior. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman, File)
SPRINGFIELD – One day after state House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, announced a suspension – but not a withdrawal – of his campaign for another term as speaker, a state representative who has been accused of being a staunch Madigan protector has launched a bid for the post.
Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, has the backing of House Black Caucus members, a voting bloc that had previously supported Madigan’s reelection. Of the 22 House members of the Black Caucus, all but Maurice West, D-Rockford, had supported Madigan for another term.
But in a closed-door meeting of the Black Caucus Monday evening during a pause in floor debate of its massive legislative agenda, Welch was put forward as a candidate in the race that is not scheduled for an official public vote until Wednesday.
“I am honored to be called upon my colleagues from the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus to put my name in for consideration,” Welch said in a Tuesday morning statement. “This historic moment in Illinois and across the country calls for new representation and unity of democratic beliefs. I want to thank Speaker Madigan for his leadership – it has been a challenging year for us all but I am grateful for his commitment to serving the public.”
Despite Madigan’s campaign suspension, Steve Brown, a Madigan spokesperson, said in an email Tuesday morning that Madigan “has no plans to support another candidate. Announced or otherwise.”
Meanwhile, another declared candidate, Rep. Ann Williams, of Chicago announced her withdrawal Tuesday night, as the wrangling for votes continued on the House floor.
Welch has most recently been in the news as the chairman of a House committee launched by Republicans to investigate Madigan’s ties to Commonwealth Edison, the state’s largest public utility which admitted in a bombshell court document in July to seeking to influence the speaker to pass favorable legislation to the company in exchange for jobs for Madigan’s associates.
Madigan has not been charged and denies wrongdoing, but the House investigating committee sought to prove conduct unbecoming of a legislator, not to charge him with a crime.
Welch and two other Democrats on the committee voted to end the investigation after just three meetings in four months.
“It was our duty to conduct this investigation to support and try to rebuild the integrity and trust of the House of Representatives,” Rep. Tom Demmer, R-Dixon, the committee’s ranking GOP member said at the time. “But what we saw under the leadership of Chairman Welch was a process that sought not to hear from additional witnesses, sought not to have adequate number of hearings and sought to bring the committee to a conclusion before we had the information necessary to make a qualified judgment.”
But Welch contended Republicans, by calling the investigating committee, were engaging in a “power grab” and “political show” ahead of November elections in an attempt to weaken Madigan.
Now, the Hillside Democrat has been thrust into the spotlight as a leading challenger to Madigan’s decades of power, along with Rep. Ann Williams, D-Chicago, who received 18 votes in an initial ballot taken Sunday night behind closed doors prior to Welch’s candidacy and Madigan’s suspension of his campaign. Madigan received 51 votes in that ballot, while Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, received three votes.
Williams, who received 18 votes in an initial ballot taken Sunday night behind closed doors prior to Welch’s candidacy and Madigan’s suspension of his campaign, announced her withdrawal from the race Tuesday night. Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, who received three votes in that ballot, also dropped out. She was the first candidate to challenge Madigan.
“I couldn’t be more grateful for all those who encouraged and supported me along the way. I am proud of what we accomplished and the steps we took to begin a new chapter in the Illinois House. We made history,” Williams said in a statement Tuesday. “The House Democratic Caucus continues to debate the best path forward and I am confident that we will reach a decision together and get to work for the people of Illinois. I will continue to push for strong and independent women to lead - not just in the Illinois House, but at all levels of government.”
Neither a woman nor a person of color has ever served as speaker in Illinois.
The House speaker is chosen by members of the Illinois House of Representatives every two years. There will be 73 Democrats and 45 Republicans seated for the vote for a new speaker, and 60 votes are needed to gain the speakership.
Normally, votes for leadership are decided before they get to the House floor. And Madigan has, until now, had the votes locked up for his speakership in every election since 1983, except for a two-year period in the 1990s when Republicans took control of the chamber.
A speaker can be elected with either Republican or Democratic votes, but historically the majority party has unified behind a candidate.
Several news reports Tuesday evening pegged Welch at 50 votes for speaker in a Tuesday night ballot – one fewer than Madigan had when he announced his suspension. Several news reports had race newcomer Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea, sitting at 15 votes, with eight voting present. Closed-door balloting was expected to continue late into Tuesday night.
Tuesday marked the final day of the 101st General Assembly, and the Black Caucus was working to pass several pieces of transformative legislation from health care reforms to economic equity measures and an overhaul of several criminal justice statutes in the state.
Action on those measures may continue into Wednesday morning prior to the seating of new and reelected lawmakers for the 102nd General Assembly, which was scheduled for noon Wednesday. Once new lawmakers are seated, they must name a speaker before action can continue.
PHOTOS: The career of Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan
Illinois Pensions

Illinois Speaker of the House Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, gives his opening remarks on the pension reform bill, SB1, on the floor on the House at the Illinois State Capitol, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2013, in Springfield, Ill. The bill passed both the House and the Senate and is planned to eliminate the state's $100 billion pension shortfall. (AP Photo/The State Journal-Register, Justin L. Fowler)
Illinois Budget Education Funding

Illinois Speaker of the House Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, center front, poses for a photo after meeting with police chiefs, sheriffs, and state's attorneys who are lobbying to maintain funding for early education and youth programs.
Illinois Budget

Illinois Speaker of the House Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, top, and Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, bottom, shake hands Wednesday before Quinn delivers the State Budget Address to a joint session of the General Assembly in the House chambers.
041814-dec-news-obamalibraryart

Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, left, and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel appear before an Illinois House committee meeting in Chicago.
Illinois Legislature

Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, left and House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago talk at the Capitol on Friday.
Pat Quinn, Christine Radogno, Michael Madigan, Jim Durkin, Mike Zalewski, Darlene Senger

FILE - in this Dec. 5, 2013 file photo, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn hands off a pen during the signing of the pension overhaul legislation bill in Chicago. A Sangamon County judge's ruling Friday Nov. 21, 2014 on the constitutionality of the landmark Illinois pension overhaul could determine whether the matter is ultimately decided by the state Supreme Court. Looking on from left are: state Rep. Mike Zalewski, D-Riverside; Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington; Senate GOP leader Sen. Christine Radogno; Rep. Darlene Senger, R-Naperville; Rep. Jim Durkin, R-Western Springs and House Speaker Michael Madigan. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green, File)
Illinois House Of Represntatives

Retired Justice Alan J. Greiman delivers the oath of office to House Speaker Michael Madigan during the inauguration of the state House on Wednesday on the campus of the University of Illinois Springfield.
Bruce Rauner, Michael Madigan File

In this Jan. 12, 2015, photo, Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner, center left, shakes hands Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan after inauguration ceremonies in Springfield.
Michael Madigan, Bruce Rauner

In this Feb. 4 file photo, Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner, right, reaches to shake the hand of House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, after delivering his first state of the state address at the Capitol in Springfield.
August 2015

Illinois Speaker of the House Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, speaks to supporters during a Democrats Day rally at the Illinois State Fair in August 2015 in Springfield.
October 2015

In this Oct. 20 2015 file photo, Illinois Speaker of the House Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, speaks to lawmakers at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield, Ill.
April 2016

Illinois Speaker of the House Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, speaks to reporters while heading into Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner's office for a meeting in April 2016 at the Capitol in Springfield.
May 2016

Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, answers questions along with Illinois Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, right, during a press conference in front of Gov. Bruce Rauner's office after a leaders meeting on the final day of the spring legislative session at the state Capitol, Tuesday, May 31, 2016, in Springfield, Ill.
November 2016

Illinois Speaker of the House Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, speaks to reporters outside Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner's office at the Illinois State Capitol during veto session Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2016, in Springfield, Ill.
July 2017

Illinois Speaker of the House Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, looks up towards the video boards during the overtime session at the state Capitol in Springfield in July 2017.
Illinois Legislature

In this July 26, 2017, file photo, Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, speaks at a news conference at the Capitol in Springfield.
August 2017

In this Aug. 28, 2017, file photo, Illinois Speaker of the House Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, looks out over the floor of the Illinois House at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield.
Illinois Lobbyist Rape Email

FILE - In this Aug. 16, 2018, file photo, Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, speaks in Springfield, Ill.
Illinois Legislature

Illinois Speaker of the House Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, shakes hands with Illinois House Minority Leader Jim Durkin, R-Western Springs, after being elected as the Illinois Speaker of the House for his 19th term during the inauguration ceremony for the Illinois House of Representatives for the 101st General Assembly at the University of Illinois Springfield's Sangamon Auditorium on Wednesday.
Illinois Legislature

Illinois Speaker of the House Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, visits with House Minority Leader Jim Durkin, R-Western Springs, and Gov.-elect J.B. Pritzker prior to to the inauguration ceremony for the Illinois House of Representatives for the 101st General Assembly at the University of Illinois at Springfield's Sangamon Auditorium on Wednesday, Jan. 9.
2019

House Speaker Mike Madigan, a Chicago Democrat, is pictured speaking to graduate students in the University of Illinois Springfield’s Public Affairs Reporting program at the Statehouse in 2019.
Illinois Legislature

House Speaker Michael Madigan, top row, second from right, D-Chicago, listens to debate on the state budget in the House at the State Capitol on Friday.
May 2020

Illinois Speaker of the House Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, talks on his cellphone from his desk during an extended session of the Illinois House of Representatives at the Bank of Springfield Center, Saturday, May 23, 2020, in Springfield.
January 2021

In this Jan. 8, 2021, file photo, Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan appears on the floor as the Illinois House of Representatives convenes at the Bank of Springfield Center, in Springfield, Ill. House Speaker Madigan on Monday, Jan. 11, 2021, said he was “suspending” his campaign for a 19th term in the leadership post.