John Cullerton resigns from Illinois Senate

John Cullerton’s political career, which spanned seven governors, including two who went to prison, has officially ended.

After more than four decades in office, Cullerton, who served as the 38th president of the Illinois Senate, resigned from his Senate seat Monday.

In November, Cullerton surprised many when he announced he would be stepping down and leaving the chamber. Sunday, Sen. Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, was elected unanimously to replace Cullerton as Senate president after hours of negotiations.

As for Cullerton’s vacant seat, State Rep. Sara Feigenholtz — who previously worked as Cullerton’s district chief of staff — is eyeing the job and has contacted Democratic ward committeemen who will eventually vote to appoint Cullerton’s replacement.

“Thank you to my family, friends, staff, and constituents, whose support and encouragement will always be the backbone of my efforts,” Cullerton wrote in the resignation letter he submitted Monday.

Cullerton, a Democrat from the North Side, was first elected to the General Assembly in 1978. In 1991, Cullerton was appointed to the Illinois Senate to fill the vacancy left by Dawn Clark Netsch. In 2009, Cullerton took over as Senate president, succeeding Emil Jones Jr.

Cullerton began his tenure as Senate president in 2009 overseeing the impeachment trial of then Gov. Rod Blagojevich, which led to the Senate voting unanimously to remove the embattled governor from office.

During his legislative career, Cullerton became known for pushing for several major pieces of legislation such as the ban of smoking in public places and a law requiring children to buckle up. Cullerton also pushed for abolishing the death penalty, marriage equality, school funding reform and two capital bills while leading the Senate.

Cullerton’s surprise resignation announcement came after a year of scandal in the General Assembly.

In August, state Sen. Tom Cullerton, a distant cousin of Cullerton’s, was indicted for charges related to allegedly being a ghost payroller for the Teamsters

In October, former state Rep. Luis Arroyo was charged with bribery, for allegedly attempting to bribe a state lawmaker in exchange for support for legislation that would have benefited one of the clients Arroyo did lobbying work for.

Then state Sen. Martin Sandoval resigned in November after federal officials raided his Springfield and Cicero offices as part of a corruption investigation. Sandoval has not been charged with a crime.