By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois House Democrats will start voting in Sunday, as House Speaker Mike Madigan is in danger of missing out on a nineteenth term.

He has been speaker – except for 1995-96 – since 1983. But people close to him were caught up in the #MeToo scandal, and, more recently, Commonwealth Edison has admitted to a nearly decade-long attempt to bribe him to get its way in the legislature. The massive bribery case has implicated Madigan, though he is not indicted.

Three Democrats want to succeed him as speaker: Stephanie Kifowit of Oswego, Ann Williams of Chicago, and Kathleen Willis of Addison. It will take sixty votes of the 73-member caucus to win, and 19 of them have publicly said they are not going to vote for Madigan.

Black and Latino lawmakers are sticking with him.

And a Senate committee Saturday heard testimony for and against a big package of legislation supporters call “police reform,” though police groups dislike it. Among the points: an end to cash bail and also to “qualified immunity” – a shield from personal liability for cops.

The General Assembly is in lame duck session, leading to inauguration of the new General Assembly Wednesday.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected].