Biography:
Emanuel "Chris" Welch was first elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 2013. In January 2021, he became the first black lawmaker to be elected House Speaker. Since joining the House, he has focused on improving the state's fiscal health, creating more equity in black and brown communities, delivering more funds for classroom education, and creating opportunity for all. In 2022, he led the effort to secure the largest Democratic majority in modern Illinois history. This supermajority, known as the Great 78, is one of the most diverse state legislatures in the nation and has championed legislation that has made Illinois a leader in clean energy, reproductive freedom, and gun violence prevention.