Democratic Party of Illinois

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Democratic Party of Illinois
HeadquartersSpringfield, Illinois
IdeologyModern liberalism
Progressivism
National affiliationDemocratic Party
Colors  Blue
Statewide Executive Offices
6 / 6
Seats in the U.S. Senate
2 / 2
Seats in the U.S. House of Representatives
14 / 17
Seats in the Illinois Senate
40 / 59
Seats in the Illinois House of Representatives
78 / 118
Website
ildems.com

The Democratic Party of Illinois is the affiliate of the Democratic Party in the U.S. state of Illinois. It is the oldest extant state party in Illinois and one of just two recognized parties in the state, along with the Republican Party. It is currently the dominant party in the state, controlling the majority of Illinois' U.S. House seats, both U.S. Senate seats, both houses of the state legislature, and the governorship.

History

President Barack Obama (2009–2017)

The Democratic Party of Illinois took shape during the late 1830s. Prior to that time, Illinois did not have organized political parties; instead, political competition in the state was more personalist, with prominent factions centered on Governors Ninian Edwards and Shadrach Bond. As the Democratic and Whig parties began to form at the national level during the late 1820s and 1830s, Illinois politicians began sorting themselves accordingly and, in the summer of 1837, leading Democrats met to lay the groundwork for a Democratic Party organization in the state.

Before 2010, the party had been extremely successful in statewide elections for the past decade. In 1992,

African American woman to be elected to the United States Senate. Her election marked the first time Illinois had elected a woman, and the first time a Black person was elected as a Democratic Party candidate to the United States Senate. A second African American Democratic Senator, Barack Obama was elected in 2004 (the same seat that Senator Moseley-Braun once held), and later elected President of the United States in 2008. Democrats currently hold supermajorities in both the Illinois Senate and Illinois House of Representatives
.

Organization and leadership

The Democratic Party of Illinois is run by a Democratic State Central Committee of 34 members, two from each of the state's 17 congressional districts. The Central Committee has four officers: a chairman, a vice-chair, a secretary, and a treasurer.

Michael Madigan. Madigan himself succeeded LaPaille, serving in the role until he stepped down in 2021. He was succeeded by U.S. Representative Robin Kelly. In 2022, Kelly was replaced by State Representative Lisa Hernandez
.

Cook County Democratic Party

The

committeemen
to elect candidates.

Current elected officials

Members of Congress

U.S. Senate

Democrats have controlled both of Illinois's seats in the U.S. Senate since 2016:

U.S. House of Representatives

Out of the 17 seats Illinois is apportioned in the U.S. House of Representatives, 14 are held by Democrats:

Illinois Democrats in House of Representatives
District Member Photo
1st Jonathan Jackson
2nd Robin Kelly
3rd Delia Ramirez
4th
Jesús "Chuy" García
5th
Mike Quigley
6th Sean Casten
7th
Danny K. Davis
8th Raja Krishnamoorthi
9th Jan Schakowsky
10th Brad Schneider
11th Bill Foster
13th Nikki Budzinski
14th Lauren Underwood
17th Eric Sorensen

Statewide officials

Democrats control all six of the elected statewide offices:

State legislative leaders

Mayors

See also

References

  1. ^ Wingert, Pat (1986-03-20). "Stunned Democrats Agonize on LaMess". Chicago Tribune. pp. 3 (Chicagoland, Sec. C).
  2. ^ Illinois Secretary of State (2005). 2005-2006 Illinois Handbook of Government (PDF). p. 51.

External links