Illinois House Minority Leader not seeking another term

Posted on November 9, 2022
Illinois House Minority Leader Jim Durkin. (Photo courtesy: Dave Dahl/WJBC)

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois House Minority Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) announced the morning after the election he would not seek a new term as leader. A spokeswoman said Durkin has no plans to leave the House at the moment.

The decision comes after Democratic wins that stand to boost the supermajority party’s count in the House to 77, to the Republicans’ 41. It also coincides with moderate Republicans allied with Durkin leaving the House through retirement, through seeking higher office, and through election losses.

State Rep. Tim Butler (R-Springfield) says while he is sorry to see Durkin replaced as minority leader, the writing is on the wall: the Republicans’ strategy simply is not working – not after two consecutive elections of Democrats sweeping all statewide offices.

“There’s no way to sugarcoat it,” Butler said after learning the news Wednesday morning. “It was a bad night for Republicans in Illinois. Obviously, we are going to have to do some evaluating on where we go in the future and really come up with some new ideas on how we can move forward.”

Durkin’s statement Wednesday morning:

“The House Republicans ran on the message of fighting for lower taxes and safer communities for families and businesses across the state, and I am proud of all our campaigns who fought hard over the last year. I congratulate all of the Republicans who will now represent these important voices in the General Assembly and fight against the Democratic Party of Illinois. While I am not pleased with the results, I will accept them.

“It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve as Leader of the House Republican caucus, but it’s time for the Illinois Republican Party to rebuild with new leaders who can bring independents back to the party that are needed to bring change to the state. With that, I will not be seeking re-election as minority leader. I am proud of the work the House Republican caucus has accomplished under my tenure, and thank everyone who played a part along the way. I began this journey as a voice of moderation and conclude this journey the same way I started, a voice of moderation.

“To the people of Illinois disappointed with these results, don’t give up hope. Tomorrow is a new day.”

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected].

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