UPDATED 1:36 p.m.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – More than two dozen Illinois House Democrats say six years of Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch is enough.

Twenty-four members of the House, and two more who will be coming in in January, have found enough not to like about Welch’s leadership that they have signed a statement that they will not support him for a fourth two-year term as speaker.

Quoting the statement from the members, “We represent a broad spectrum of our caucus, and each have come to this decision for our own reasons.”

The negatives include his handling of sexual harassment allegations against now-former State Rep. Harry Benton, his conduct in liking social media posts by one of Benton’s victims, and his decision for the House Democratic political organization to pull out of the party’s coordinated campaign. It was later reported that the speaker knew of the allegations for three years and not only did not sanction Benton – but gave him more than a (m) million dollars in campaign cash.

Welch liked that Benton staffer’s social media posts as mentioned above, some with emojis with hearts-in-the-eyes. Welch also reportedly suggested he and that staff member – who had been a Welch intern – take their text conversation to a private messaging app called Signal, and that they meet in a bar to talk about her future.

House Republicans may also support the move to oust Welch.

“I continue to believe he is unfit to continue serving as Speaker,” says Rep. Tony McCombie (R-Savanna), House Minority Leader, in a statement to CapitolCityNow.

Welch swept into the top spot in his chamber in part because his predecessor, Mike Madigan, could not handle the “Me Too” movement correctly. Now, he could be swept out because of his own failings there.

WTAX/CapitolCityNow has asked the speaker’s office for comment.

Any change in the speakership could come in January, 2027 — when the new Illinois General Assembly takes office, after the fall veto and January lame duck sessions.

This story may be updated.

BELOW IS THE FULL STATEMENT CALLING FOR WELCH’S OUSTER:

The following is a statement from 26 members of the Illinois State House Democratic Caucus:

“Over the course of the last few months, we have grown increasingly convinced that the House Democratic Caucus needs new leadership. We represent a broad spectrum of our caucus, and each have come to this decision for our own reasons. We look forward to a robust race for a new Speaker of the House.”

Signers include:

Rep. Diane Blair-Sherlock, 46th
Rep. Mary Beth Canty, 54th
Rep. Kelly Cassidy, 14th
Rep. Sharon Chung, 91st
Rep. Justin Cochran, 55th
Rep. Fred Crespo, 44th
Rep. Margaret DeLaRosa, 42nd
Rep. Eva-Dina Delgado, 3rd
Rep. Daniel Didech, 59th
Rep. Jessica Dixon Heitman, 97th
Rep. Mary Gill, 35th
Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz, 17th
Rep. Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar, 22nd
Rep. Barbara Hernandez, 50th
Rep. Lisa Hernandez, 2nd
Rep. Gregg Johnson, 72nd
Rep. Tracy Katz Muhl, 57th
Rep.-Elect Paul Kendrick, 12th
Rep. Natalie Manley, 98th
Rep. Joyce Mason, 61st
Rep. Bob Morgan, 58th
Rep. Michelle Mussman, 56th
Rep.-Elect Maria Peterson, 52nd
Rep. Anne Stava, 81st
Rep. Katie Stuart, 112nd
Rep. Larry Walsh, Jr., 86th