Chris Welch (politician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chris Welch
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Welch in 2023.
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| 70th Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives | |
| Assumed office January 13, 2021 |
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| Preceded by | Michael Madigan |
| Member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 7th district |
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| Assumed office January 11, 2013 |
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| Preceded by | Cory Foster |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Emanuel Christopher Welch
February 6, 1971 |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | ShawnTe Raines |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Northwestern University (BA) John Marshall Law School (JD) |
Emanuel Christopher Welch (born February 6, 1971), known as Chris Welch, is an American lawyer and politician. He is currently the Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Welch represents the 7th district in Cook County, Illinois. This area includes parts of towns like River Forest, Forest Park, and Maywood.
On January 13, 2021, Chris Welch was elected the 70th Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives. He took over from Michael Madigan. This was a historic moment because he is the first African American to hold this important position.
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Chris Welch's Education and Law Career
Chris Welch finished high school at Proviso West High School in Hillside, Illinois, in 1989. He then went to Northwestern University and earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1993. After that, he studied law at the John Marshall Law School. He received his law degree (Juris Doctor or J.D.) in 1997.
After becoming a lawyer, Welch worked in private practice. He is a partner at a law firm called Ancel Glink. Before that, he was a partner at another firm, Sanchez, Daniels and Hoffman, LLP.
Serving on the School Board
In 2001, Chris Welch was elected to the school board for Proviso Township High Schools District 209. He later became the president of the Board. During his time on the board, he helped create the Proviso Math and Science Academy. This academy became well-known across the country. He left the school board in 2013 when he was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives.
Illinois House of Representatives
Chris Welch first ran for the Illinois House of Representatives in 2006. He ran in district 7, but he lost that election.
Winning Elections
In 2012, Welch ran for the same seat again. He won the Democratic nomination and then ran unopposed in the main election. He officially became a state representative on January 9, 2013.
He was reelected several times without facing much opposition. In 2014, his challenger was removed from the ballot. In 2016, he won the primary election and then ran unopposed in the general election. He was also reelected in 2018 and 2020 without anyone running against him. In 2022, he won his election against a Republican challenger with a large percentage of the votes.
His Time as a Representative
In 2018, the new Governor, J. B. Pritzker, asked Chris Welch to join a special committee. This committee focused on state education policy.
Welch also led a special House committee that looked into a bribery scandal. This committee's work ended without making any findings. Welch later said that he believed prosecutors should handle the matter.
He also chaired the House Executive Committee. In the 2020 U.S. presidential election, he served as a presidential elector for Joe Biden.
Becoming House Speaker
His Election as Speaker
On January 13, 2021, the Illinois House of Representatives chose Chris Welch to be their Speaker. This was a very important moment. He became the first African American person to serve as Speaker of the Illinois House.
First Term as Speaker (2021–2023)
During his first term as House Speaker, the General Assembly passed several important laws. These included a ban on certain types of weapons and a law about climate and jobs. They also passed the SAFE-T Act and created new district maps based on the 2020 census.
In the 2022 elections, Democrats gained more seats in the House. This gave them an even stronger majority. Many people in his political party have said that Welch has done a good job as Speaker. They like that he includes more people in discussions about new laws.
Second Term as Speaker (2023–)
The House reelected Chris Welch as Speaker on January 11, 2023. A couple of days later, he announced that Robyn Gabel would become the new Majority Leader. Welch continued to support important bills, like the ban on assault weapons in 2023.
Chris Welch's Personal Life
Chris Welch grew up with two brothers and three cousins. His mother worked as a nurse, and his father worked two jobs a day in a factory.
He is married to ShawnTe Raines-Welch, who is also an attorney. They have two children. ShawnTe Raines-Welch has worked as a lawyer for several towns. In 2022, she won the Democratic nomination to become a judge in Cook County.
Chris Welch lives in Hillside, Illinois.
Images for kids
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Welch in 2023.
