Lake County Gazette

Former Republican House candidate, Jim Walsh, is hoping longtime House Speaker Mike Madigan is finally on the verge of getting what he thinks is long deserved in Springfield.

“More and more democrats say they won’t vote for him and it’s looking like the end could be near,” Walsh told the Lake County Gazette in an interview. 

“That would certainly be in the best interest of this state," Walsh said. 

Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan | Stock Photo

With Madigan now finding himself at the center of a still-unfolding federal corruption probe involving ComEd, and a pay-for-play scheme where all the perks were allegedly steered to him in exchange for favorable legislation, as many as 18 democratic lawmakers now insist they have no intentions of supporting his reelection efforts.

More recently, four individuals with close ties to him were indicted in connection with the scheme, including longtime pal and local lobbyist Michael McClain, who counts bribery among the alleged charges he faces.

“You want to take what the democratic lawmakers are saying at face value, but at the same time you know Madigan isn’t done trying to find the right screws to squeeze,” Walsh who lost his 62nd District race to incumbent Rep, Sam Yingling by just over 3,000 votes, said.

“With Mike Madigan and Springfield, nothing’s done until it’s done," Walsh said.

When it comes to finally being able to show the state’s longest-tenured lawmaker the door for good, Walsh said he holds out higher hopes for the criminal investigation that is still unfolding, even though that leaves him with trepidations.

“I think that’s our best chance of ending the Madigan era, but I’m concerned if the feds take care of the matter everything else will be swept under the rug and we won’t do what we need about the reforms,” Walsh said, “We need to be keeping the issue of reform on the minds of everyone.”