Former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan, D-Chicago, is stepping down as head of the Democratic Party in Illinois.
SPRINGFIELD – Former Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan announced Monday that he is resigning as chairman of the state Democratic Party, a post he has held since 1998.
“Over the last two decades, we have elected a diverse array of Democrats across Illinois and helped send a hometown Chicago leader to the White House, turning Illinois into a Democratic stronghold in the Midwest,” Madigan said in a statement late Monday afternoon. “Together, we faced conservative extremism and stood up for working men and women. I’m confident the Democratic Party of Illinois will continue to cement our place as a beacon of progressive values.
“My work would not have been possible without the support of my family, Shirley, Lisa, Tiffany, Nicole and Andrew. I thank each of them for their unwavering love and support that has allowed me to do this work for so long.”
Madigan, 78, resigned his House seat Thursday, a month after he failed to win another term as speaker. He had served as the top officer in the House for all but two years since 1983.
But support for him within the Democratic caucus began eroding after officials at utility giant Commonwealth Edison admitted to a yearslong bribery scheme in which they admitted awarding jobs and contracts to Madigan’s associates in order to curry his favor for legislation benefitting the company.
Madigan has not been charged in that case and has vehemently denied any wrongdoing. But his connection to the scandal prompted other high-ranking Democrats, including U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, to blame him for key losses in the 2020 elections, including the failure of Gov. JB Pritzker’s proposed graduated income tax amendment.
In a separate statement Monday, newly-elected Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, thanked Madigan for his years of service to the party.
“I have full confidence in the state central committee's ability to select a new chair. The Illinois Democratic party remains strong, and we will continue our work to create a more equitable state,” Welch said.
Madigan’s resignation from the party chairmanship was effective immediately. His four-year term as a state central committeeman is scheduled to end following the March primary in 2022. According to a press release, Vice Chairwoman Karen Yarbrough will serve as interim chairwoman until the 36 members of the state central committee meet within the next 30 days to elect a new chairperson to serve out the remainder of Madigan’s term.
“One thing everyone knows about Illinois is that it’s a reliably blue state in the Midwest and throughout the country, and that’s in large part because of the leadership of Mike Madigan,” Yarbrough said in a statement. “Democrats across Illinois owe Chairman Madigan a huge debt of gratitude for the support, resources and time he’s dedicated to candidates and races at every level. While our party enters a transition and looks to the future, I hope we don’t lose sight of the extraordinary contributions he has made. I thank him for his leadership and wish him the best in his next chapter.”
Timeline: Looking back at the career of Mike Madigan
Early career
1965: As a first-year Loyola-Chicago law student, Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley appoints Madigan to a job in the city's law department.
1969: At 27 years old, Madigan is elected as 13th Ward committeeman in Chicago.
State office
1970: Madigan is elected to a state office for the first time as a delegate to the state's constructional convention.
1971: Madigan becomes the state representative for the 22nd Illinois House District on Chicago's South Side near Midway Airport.
1972: His friend Vincent Getzendanner joins Madigan to found a law firm, Madigan and Getzendanner, which is known for handling property law.
1976: Madigan marries Shirley Murray, who has a daughter named Lisa. Lisa was elected Illinois attorney general in 2003.
Speaker of House
1983: House Democrats elect Madigan as Speaker of the House, a title he would hold for over three decades.
1995: Lee Daniels, a Republican, is elected Speaker of the House, briefly making Madigan the House minority leader.
1997: Democrats regain control of the Illinois House and elect Madigan as speaker.
Chairman position
1998: Madigan is elected chairman of the Democratic Party of Illinois.
Blagojevich rift
2003: Rod Blagojevich, a Democrat, is sworn in as governor. Blagojevich and Madigan fought bitterly over budgets and rarely got along.
Impeachment
2008: Madigan initiates impeachment proceedings against Blagojevich after the governor is indicted on federal corruption charges.
Income tax rate
2011: Madigan leads a historic effort to raise Illinois' income tax rate from 3.25% to 5%, the largest increase in state history. Democrats and Gov. Pat Quinn hoped it would alleviate pressure on the budget.
Rift with Rauner
2013: The Chicago Tribune reports Madigan used his influence to secure patronage hiring at the Chicago area's commuter train agency, Metra.
2015: Fierce fights with Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner resulted in Illinois failing to pass a budget by the beginning of the new fiscal year on July 1. Illinois would go over two years without a budget.
2016: Madigan's personal lawyer, Michael Kasper, successfully sues to block an amendment to the state constitution allowing legislative maps to be created by an independent commission, which would have taken power away from Madigan.
#MeToo movement
2016: Madigan leads a legislative effort to help Exelon, the parent company of Commonwealth Edison, secure funds for two nuclear power plants. The legislation leads to a $2.3 billion rate hike on ComEd customers.
2017: Despite a veto from Rauner, the General Assembly passes a budget, ending over two years of negotiations. It includes an income tax increase to 4.95%.
2018: The #MeToo movement enters the state Capitol and Madigan's inner circle. Former state Rep. Lou Lang was accused of inappropriate conduct but later cleared.
Firing aide
February 2018: Madigan fires aide Kevin Quinn after staffer Alaina Hampton shared messages with the Chicago Tribune describing sexual harassment from Quinn and Madigan's refusal to address the issue. Madigan settled with Hampton for $275,000.
June 2018: Madigan's chief of staff Tim Mapes resigns after allegations of inappropriate conduct toward a co-worker at the state Capitol. Employees of the Capitol, including lawmakers became required to take sexual harassment training at Madigan's direction.
2019: Springfield Bishop Thomas Paprocki bars Madigan, a Catholic, from receiving Holy Communion in the Diocese of Springfield after he supported a bill expanding access to abortion.
FBI raid
2019: FBI agents raid the homes of Madigan's closest political associates, including Mike McClain of Quincy, a former state representative and ComEd lobbyist. His phone was also tapped by the FBI. The FBI's work would eventually result in charges against McClain and others close to Madigan.
Jan. 9, 2020: Madigan declines to open an investigation by the state legislature into an email written in 2012 by McClain that refers to a "rape in Champaign."
July 17, 2020: Energy provider ComEd is hit with bribery charges. Madigan is implicated in the charges as Public Official A, the elected official the company sought to influence in exchange for his support on legislation between 2011 and 2019. Madigan said he was unaware of any attempts to influence him and did not take part in any unethical behavior. The FBI also delivered a grand jury subpoena to Madigan's state capitol office. That day, multiple lawmakers began dropping their support for Madigan's leadership.
Kifowit runs against Madigan
Oct. 1, 2020: State Rep. Stephanie Kifowit announces she will run against Madigan for speaker. It's believed to be the first time Madigan faced a serious challenge for the job from a member of his own party.
Nov. 18, 2020: Four of Madigan's close associates — Anne Pramaggiore, John Hooker, Michael McClain and Jay Doherty — are charged in the ComEd probe.
Resignation
Dec. 1, 2020: State Rep. Kathleen Willis becomes the 19th House Democrat to announce she will not support Madigan's bid for speaker, leaving him shy of the necessary 60 votes needed to be elected speaker.
Jan.11, 2021: After failing to get enough support within his own party, Madigan announces he is suspending his run for speaker.
Jan. 13, 2021: State Rep. Emanuel "Chris" Welch, D-Hillside, is elected Speaker of the House, ending Madigan's 36 years as speaker and his tenure as the longest-serving legislative leader in American history.
Feb. 18, 2021: Madigan announces he will resign as a state representative at the end of the month, ending a 50-year career as a state lawmaker.
