Illinois House Republicans, Candidates Turn Up Pressure on Democrats: Will You Take Welch’s Money and Vote for Him as Speaker?

By Illinois Review

Illinois House Republicans and GOP candidates are turning up the pressure on Democratic candidates across the state, challenging them to publicly say whether they will accept campaign support from embattled House Speaker Chris Welch – and whether they would vote to keep him as Speaker.

The questions come as Welch faces growing calls for his resignation over his handling of sexual harassment allegations involving former Democrat State Rep. Harry Benton.

Republicans are now seeking to make Welch’s leadership – and Democrats’ continued support for him – an issue in competitive Illinois House races heading into November.

Leading the effort is Republican Gabby Shanahan, who is running in the 97th District for the seat formerly held by Benton.

Shanahan is challenging the newly appointed Democrat State Rep. Jessica Dixon Heitman to tell voters whether she would support Welch for another term as Speaker.

Dixon Heitman has indicated she would accept campaign support from Welch, but has not publicly said whether she would vote for him to remain Speaker.

“After everything that has happened, silence is not an acceptable answer,” Shanahan said.

The question carries particular significance in the 97th District because Welch’s political operation spent approximately $1.4 million supporting Benton’s 2024 reelection campaign after the Speaker’s office had already been notified of sexual harassment allegations involving the Plainfield Democrat.

The Legislative Inspector General later concluded that Benton committed two acts of sexual harassment and documented a broader “pattern and practice” of inappropriate conduct.

The political pressure is spreading to other House races.

In the 65th District, Republican State Rep. Dan Ugaste is challenging his Democratic opponent, Ricky Rivard, to tell voters whether he would support Welch for another term as Speaker.

The emerging Republican strategy puts Democratic candidates in an increasingly difficult position.

Welch and his political operation have historically played an influential role in financing Democratic House campaigns, particularly in competitive districts. But accepting financial support from the Speaker could now leave candidates facing questions about whether they are also prepared to support his continued leadership.

The pressure comes as calls for Welch’s resignation continue to grow.

Democrat State Rep. Fred Crespo has publicly called on Welch to resign, as have House Republican Leader Tony McCombie, Republican State Rep. Chris Miller and the Illinois House Republican Women’s Caucus.

Former Madigan-era whistleblower Alaina Hampton has also called for Welch’s resignation, arguing that the Benton scandal demonstrates that the culture surrounding sexual harassment and political accountability in Springfield has not fundamentally changed.

There are also growing calls for an independent investigation into Welch’s office and its handling of the Benton allegations, including requests for the U.S. Department of Justice to review whether the Illinois House Democratic caucus fostered a hostile work environment in violation of federal civil rights laws.

As the controversy moves from the State Capitol onto the campaign trail, Republicans are seeking to force Democratic candidates to take a position on the Speaker rather than allowing them to remain silent.

For Democratic House candidates, the questions are becoming increasingly difficult to avoid:

Will they accept Chris Welch’s campaign money?

And if elected, will they vote to keep him as Speaker?