Eye On Illinois: State Dems must officially choose new path forward

And now it’s the Democrats’ turn to choose a new path forward.

Mike Madigan disappeared from Illinois’ political scene slowly, then all at once. On July 17, federal prosecutors implicated Madigan in a bribery investigation. On Sept. 2, House Republican Leader Jim Durkin filed a petition to create a special House committee to investigate Madigan’s role as Public Official A. On Oct. 1, state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit announced she would challenge Madigan for the right to be speaker of the House.

Those were the recent mileposts foreshadowing Madigan’s exit from the political stage he dominated for half a century, but even as the new year dawned the cagey veteran seemed to be maneuvering for one last chance at preserving his power.

But in the second week of January, as lawmakers returned to Springfield for a lame-duck session and the formal opening of the 102nd General Assembly, House Democrats made it clear they wouldn’t move forward with Madigan as speaker. They replaced Madigan with Chris Welch effective Jan. 14. After a few weeks of laying low, Madigan resigned his seat in the House Thursday, hand-picked his replacement Sunday and on Monday, stepped back from his chairmanship of the Democratic Party of Illinois. (And on Tuesday, asked his hand-picked successor to step down.)

So now, Democrats are in the same position as their Republican counterparts, who earlier this month, executed a shift at the top, naming former Illinois Gaming Board Chairman Don Tracy of Springfield their chairman over Lake County GOP Chairman Mark Shaw and Kendall County Board Chairman Scott Gryder.

The battle for the ideological future of the state Democratic Party doesn’t fall on the same line as the current Republican divides – county Democratic organizations aren’t running about censuring Congressmen – but neither is there wholesale agreement on who best to take the mantle from someone who, for better and worse, defined the party for generations.

U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth and Gov. JB Pritzker, both facing their first reelection bid in 2022, backed Chicago Ald. Michelle Harris, City Council floor leader for Mayor Lori Lightfoot. U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly, of Matteson, also wants the job. She has the support of U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin. State Sen. Cristina Castro, of Elgin, is a Democratic Central Committee member and emerging as a favorite of Latino backers.

Madigan still is 13th Ward committeeman and sits on the Democratic state central committee. He’s not entirely gone, but it’s beyond clear his colleagues are moving forward. Welch’s ascendance is significant, as is the Legislative Black Caucus’ recent string of legislative victories. Here’s guessing the new chairman won’t be an old white guy.

Republicans emerged from the chairman selection process with unity, though the ongoing gubernatorial primary process will test that cohesion. Illinois Democrats have historically been better at coalescing under one message, but it remains to be seen whether that’s an inherent trait or Madigan magic.

• Scott T. Holland writes about state government issues for Shaw Media. Follow him on Twitter @sth749. He can be reached at sholland@shawmedia.com.