Michael Madigan

Michael Joseph Madigan is an American politician who is the speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives. He is the longest-serving leader of any state or federal legislative body in the history of the United States. Madigan’s father was a precinct captain in the 13th Ward and worked in the Cook County Clerk’s office, where he befriended a young Richard Daley.

About Michael Madigan in brief

Summary Michael MadiganMichael Joseph Madigan is an American politician who is the speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives. He is the longest-serving leader of any state or federal legislative body in the history of the United States. Madigan’s father was a precinct captain in the 13th Ward and worked in the Cook County Clerk’s office, where he befriended a young Richard J. Daley. In 1965, while a first-year law student at Loyola University Chicago School of Law, Madigan introduced himself to Chicago Mayor Richard Daley as his son. In 1986 Madigan urged Adlai Stevenson III to enter the Democratic primary for Illinois governor. In 1998 the Illinois Democratic Central Committee elected Madigan chair of the Democratic Party of Illinois. In November 1970 Madigan was elected to represent the 22nd District in Illinois House. He was challenged by Mateusz Tomkowiak during the primary for state central state committeeman of central Illinois in March 2018. The district, on Chicago’s southwest side in the area surrounding Midway International Airport, has recently become the majority Hispanic side of Illinois House with the exception of Madigan, who is African-American. In January 2021 Madigan announced he would be suspending his effort to be elected to a nineteenth term as Speaker of theIllinois House of Representative. He has been Speaker since 1983, and has been the body’s longest- serving member. In 2012 and 2013, Chicago Magazine named Madigan as the fourth-most-powerful Chicagoan in 2012 and as the second in both 2013 and 2014, earning him the nickname \”the Velvet Hammer—a.

k.a. the Real Governor of Illinois’ Madigan succeeded his protééé chief of staff, Gary LaPaille, to the state party staff, closed its headquarters in Merchandise Mart and moved it to Springfield, Illinois, the same office building as his campaign office. In 1972 Madigan founded the private law firm ofMadigan and Getzendanner with Vincent J. Bud GetzENDanner Jr., a fellow Loyolas law graduate, one year his senior. In 1976 Madigan married Shirley Murray, a divorced law firm receptionist with a young daughter, Lisa, whom Madigan adopted; Lisa later became Attorney General of Illinois, and later became Illinois Attorney General. In 1979 Madigan and Neil Hartigan worked together in the city law department. In 2009 Madigan became the youngest ward committeman in Chicago at the time. Madigans’ ward organization has been called the most disciplined in Chicago. Madrigan and Hartigan were delegates to the 1969-70 Illinois Constitutional convention, their first elected public offices, and became good friends. Madagan later characterized the relationship between his father and Richard M. Daley as \”political friends. \” The elder Michael Madigan later worked for 25 years as the City of Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation. The elder Madigan suffered a heart attack at age 58, and a fatal heart attacks at age 60, in 1966.