By Dave Dahl 

SPRINGFIELD – The call to replace House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) atop the Democratic Party of Illinois is reaching as high up as the governor’s office. 

During Thursday’s coronavirus briefing in Chicago, Gov. JB Pritzker was asked about U.S. Sen Dick Durbin’s (D-Ill.) assertion Madigan’s presence as state party chair is not helping, as evidenced by the defeat of Pritzker’s income tax proposal this week. 

“Look, I agree with Sen. Durbin that opponents were able to tap into voters’ concerns about corruption and their lack of trust in government,” said Pritzker, adding he wants to improve ethics in politics and government. 

A couple of minutes later, press secretary Jordan Abudayyeh relayed a follow-up question from a reporter: “To be clear, you agree with Sen. Durbin that we need new leadership at the party?” 

Pritzker’s answer: “Yes.” 

Madigan’s answer, e-malied from a spokeswoman: 

“I am proud of my record electing Democrats who support workers and families and represent the diversity of our state. Together, we have successfully advanced progressive policies that have made Illinois a strong Democratic state with supermajorities in the legislature. Illinois is the anchor in the ‘blue wall’ that has been reconstructed in the Midwest, and I look forward to continuing our fight for working families as chairman of the Democratic Party of Illinois.” 

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]