* Two high-profile Democrats in the House have confirmed rampant rumors that House Speaker Michael Madigan is suspending his re-election campaign so as not to hinder anyone trying to reach 60. More soon.
*** UPDATE *** Press release…
Mayor Michael J. Madigan released the following statement on Monday:
“This is not a withdrawal.
“I suspended my campaign for a speaker.
“As I have said many times in the past, I have always put the best interests of the House of Democrats and our members first.
“The House Democrats Chamber can work to find someone other than me to get 60 votes for president.”
… Adding… Tribune …
Stepping aside, though temporarily, Madigan may aim to show the fractured caucus that no one else can muster the necessary support.
I think it’s a big part of that, but I don’t see more than a small handful of members who voted against him yesterday crawling back and asking him to save them. The harsh reality is that it cannot reach 60. This is not a campaign in which the person with the most votes wins. For Madigan, this is like passing a law. And 60 is the magic number.
* Back to article …
While Madigan waits to see if an alternative can garner 60 votes from a very diverse caucus, it also opens the door to new candidates, including the caucuses from House Black and Latinx whose members overwhelmingly endorsed the speaker’s re-election.
And women. Don’t forget women.
The list of groups requiring the House to elect a female spokesperson now includes: Illinois Democratic Women, We Will, Vote Mama, She Votes, Illinois NOW, Lake County Democratic Women, Northwest / North NOW, McHenry NOW, Resistor SisterHood, Democratic Women of McDonough County, Illinois Handmaids, Peoria NOW, Indivisible Oak Park, Friends Who March, Indivisible Illinois, Chicago NOW and Women’s March Chicago.