Embattled Madigan to make his case before supportive House Black caucus on Saturday [View all]

Embattled House Speaker Michael Madigan, his bid for reelection to the post in jeopardy, will appear Saturday at a “candidate’s forum” hosted by one of his most loyal constituencies — the House Black caucus.

With 19 of the projected 73 Democrats who will sit in the next session of the House opposing Madigan’s reelection — leaving him six short of approval — the move by the nation’s longest-serving speaker is aimed at both shoring up and demonstrating support from a highly active caucus of House Democrats.

So far, of the Black caucus’ 22 members, only Rep. Maurice West of Rockford has said he will not vote for Madigan’s reelection as speaker, a post the Southwest Side Democrat has held since 1983 with the exception of two years in the mid-1990s when Republicans controlled the chamber.

Steve Brown, a spokesman for Madigan, said the speaker would attend the virtual candidate’s forum. Asked if the event had been organized on behalf of the speaker, Brown referred questions to the leaders of the caucus, which is chaired by Rep. Camille Lilly, D-Chicago.

Read more: https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-michael-madigan-black-caucus-20201204-vwlki5t7hrchxmeclul2va35my-story.html