Following unions' lead, lllinois House Speaker Chris Welch directs $560K to effort to oust Rep. Mary Flowers

Complete coverage of the local and national primary and general election, including results, analysis and voter resources to keep Chicago voters informed.

Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch is leading an effort to direct more than $560,000 to oust Chicago Democratic State Rep. Mary Flowers — the longest-serving African American lawmaker in the Illinois General Assembly, whose leadership was stripped last year over allegations of abusive behavior.

That behavior included an accusation that she told a House staffer last year that he resembled Adolf Hitler.

Unions have already contributed more than $500,000 to support Flowers’ opponent, Michael Crawford, in the 31st District, which stretches from the city’s Auburn Gresham neighborhood to Hickory Hills.

But now Welch and his fellow House Democratic leaders are publicly supporting Crawford with a hefty $560,500 contribution, according to TaQuoya McConnico, executive director for Illinois House Democrats. Welch himself contributed to Crawford $68,500 from his campaign fund.

Crawford is a campus dean at the Chicago School and previously worked for the City Colleges of Chicago.

“The leader’s decision to support Michael Crawford comes after much consideration of the future of our caucus,” McConnico said in a statement Tuesday. “We are working to build a better Illinois for all. We have to do that with individuals who can come to the table, work collaboratively, and do the work that makes a difference.”

Flowers, in office since 1985, was stripped of her deputy majority leader title and barred from attending House Democratic caucus meetings last year amid complaints from her colleagues that she was disrespectful and conducting what Welch himself called “abusive behavior.”

He detailed that behavior in a May 9, 2023 letter to Flowers, obtained by Capitol Fax, accusing the Democrat of using a “slur intended to divide people — including members of our own Caucus — based on their national origin.”

“In this same meeting, you compared the appearance of a staff member to Adolf Hitler. You declined to offer the caucus a sincere apology for either comment when asked,” Welch wrote. “This was not the first time you made derogatory comments toward colleagues and staff.”

Flowers on Tuesday told the Sun-Times she believed the speaker was looking for a reason to oust her as a leader — and said she had been working “low-key” with the speaker’s office staffers who had complaints and were in the early stages of trying to unionize. Flowers said she told Welch she had helped prevent a staff walk-out.

“I’m 72 years old, and everybody on that House floor, they came after I did. They all found me on the floor, talking and expressing and fighting and advocating for what I believe in and my constituents,” Flowers said. “I’m not there to serve a lobbyist. I was never there to serve Speaker [Mike] Madigan and I’m not there to serve this guy.”

As for the Hitler comment, Flowers said she told the staffer, whom she had known for 25 years, that his mustache gave him “the appearance” of Hitler. She said the staffer laughed at her comment.

Flowers has $180,012.50 cash on hand, according to campaign finance records. With the House Democrats contribution, Crawford will have more than $1.12 million in the waning weeks of his campaign.

Candidate questionnaires

Mary E. Flowers, Illinois House 31st District

Candidate questionnaire to help you weigh your choices in the March 19, 2024 Illinois primary.

Michael Crawford, Illinois House 31st District

Candidate questionnaire to help you weigh your choices in the March 19, 2024 Illinois primary.

---

Voter Guide 2024

The news and information you need to know to make your choices in the Illinois primary. Early voting has begun, and election day is March 19.

 

Candidate questionnaires

Candidates in contested Illinois March 19 primary races share their views on a range of issues through the Sun-Times/WBEZ candidate questionnaire.

 

Latest election news

Complete coverage of the local and national primary and general election, including results, analysis and voter resources to keep Chicago voters informed.

 

Democracy Solutions Project

How to vote in the March 19 primary

Here’s a guide to casting your ballot — whether you’re looking to register to vote, vote by mail or vote in person.

By Tony Arnold | WBEZ