In many ways, Welch’s political career has been defined by his handling of critical moments. That was especially true in January 2021, when then-Speaker Michael J. Madigan, struggling under the weight of a burgeoning corruption scandal, began losing the grip on the power he had held for most of the previous 40 years.

Thank God we live in Illinois because, we’re already Trump-proof,” Welch told the Sun-Times. “We did a lot of the hard work the first time. … We took him at his word the first time when he said he would overturn Roe v.

Illinois House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch has a warning for Mayor Brandon Johnson: getting help from Springfield this year could be an uphill battle.

The Land of Lincoln still isn't at the point where people can feel fully confident that lawmakers aren't making decisions based on who gave them political donations.

Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch’s informal rule requiring support from 75% of his Democratic members before allowing floor votes needs to go.

We want to be very attentive to these issues. We want to hear from the stakeholders. We want to get this right," says Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch.

Mayor Brandon Johnson’s continued insistence on looking to Springfield as a magical pot of gold for additional city revenue is being greeted with a stern warning from one powerful voice — Democratic House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch.

State lawmakers who stood in the way of recent legislation that would've regulated hemp products have received significant campaign cash from the industry.

To enact his progressive agenda, Mayor Brandon Johnson is looking to Springfield for an assist, but powerful Speaker of the Illinois House Emanuel “Chris” Welch warns that money is

Bronzeville is on the rebound and could use infrastructure investment. Illinois as a whole needs to fix crumbling roads and bridges. But $466 million in public money to help along a $6.4 billion NFL franchise at the Michael Reese site?

Bracing for impact: Illinois residents, especially in Chicago, have taken Trump at his word that he will kick off the “largest deportation program in American history.” The feds planned to start on Day 1 after the inauguration.

Behind the threats lie downstate dissatisfaction with how state politics is being determined by big city economic powerhouses. Seven Illinois counties voted in November 2024 to explore seceding from the state of Illinois.