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Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Lawmakers gathered Wednesday for the inauguration of the 104th session of the Illinois General Assembly, kicking off a fresh chapter. The Senate convened at noon in the newly renovated chambers at the Capitol, while the House held its ceremony at the Sangamon Auditorium at the University of Illinois Springfield.
Sen. Dan Harmon (D-Oak Park) was re-elected as Senate president. In his address, Harmon urged senators to focus on collaboration despite political differences. “We will all be more productive and do more good if we remember that our political counterparts are also our neighbors,” he said. “We can disagree without being disagreeable.”
Sen. John Curran (R-Downers Grove) was also re-elected as Senate minority leader. He echoed Harmon’s call for shared commitment, despite disagreements. “We can and will disagree on policy, procedure, and just about everything else in this chamber. But there is no disagreement that we are all here because we share in the commitment to making our state a better place for future generations,” Curran said.
Meanwhile, the House inaugurated its members at UIS, where Rep. Chris Welch (D-Hillside) was voted in as speaker of the House for the third consecutive time. Welch highlighted the historic nature of the House’s vote. “What you saw here today, for a historic third time, a Black man was elected speaker of the House,” he said.
Welch laid out his vision for the session. “Our mission is to build something better, not tear it down,” Welch said. He added that Illinois would not entertain “cruel and regressive policies that dehumanize our neighbors or strip away fundamental freedoms.”
Rep. Tony McCombie (R-Savanna) was also re-elected House minority leader. In her remarks, McCombie outlined her caucus’s priorities: fostering economic growth, cutting unnecessary spending, and opposing tax increases. Speaking to Welch, McCombie said, “I’m not asking for an invitation to your table, but know that your members and team are always welcome at mine. When you are ready to solve real problems, we have solutions.”
Four members of the House chose to be sworn in at the Capitol instead of attending the ceremony at the UIS, citing their decision to avoid what they called “political theater.” The lawmakers included Rep. Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich), Rep. Blaine Wilhour (R-Beecher City), Rep. Chris Miller (R-Hindsboro), and Rep. Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville).