Michael Madigan

Michael J. Madigan (born April 19, 1942) is an American politician. He was the Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives and Chairman of the Democratic Party of Illinois. A Democrat, he has held the position of Speaker of the House for all but two years since 1983—those two years being a brief interregnum of Republican majority and is the longest serving Speaker.
He has been a member of the Illinois House  1971-2021, and represented the 22nd district. He was the longest serving Speaker in Illinois and was known for having a rough rivalry with former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich.

On January 11, 2021, Madigan announced he would be ending his bid to be elected to a nineteenth term as Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives.

Early life
Madigan was born on April 19, 1942 in Chicago, Illinois. He studied at University of Notre Dame and graduated from the Loyola University Chicago School of Law.

Speaker of the House of Illinois
He has been Speaker of the Illinois House since 1982, with the exception of 1995–1996 when Republicans took control of the chamber.  Madigan engineered a Democratic comeback and regained his majority at the elections of November 1996, which he continues to defend today. He has feuded with other Democratic leaders since 2002when Democrats took control of all branches of the state governmentmost notably Governor Rod Blagojevich and Senate President Emil Jones.

One of Madigan's chief Democratic deputies in the House was Gary Hannig, who often handles budget issues.

He was the longest-serving leader of any state or federal legislative body in the history of the United States, having held the position for all but two years since 1983.Mike Madigan now the longest-serving state House speaker in U.S. history

In January 2021, Madigan refused to run for State House Speaker again following bribery allegations. Madigan operated a property tax consulting enterprise that prosecutors alleged to facilitate a bribery enterprise

On February 18, 2021 Madigan resigned from the state legislature.

Criminal charges
On March 2, 2022, Madigan was indicted on federal racketeering charges. He was convicted at trial on October 8, 2024, and has appeals of the conviction pending.

On February 12, 2025, Madigan was convicted on ten counts of bribery, wire fraud, and Travel Act violations. However, none of these convictions were related to his alleged racketeering partnership with Michael McClain. He was sentenced to 7½ years in prison and a $2.5 million fine.

Personal life
Madigan is married to Shirley Madigan. They had one daughter. His daughter is former Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan. He lives and represents West Lawn, Chicago.

References

Other websites
Representative Michael J. Madigan (D) 22nd District at the 98th Illinois General Assembly
Previous sessions: 97th , 96th , 95th , 94th, 93rd
Chairman Michael J. Madigan  of the Democratic Party of Illinois

Category:1942 births
Category:Living people
Category:Speakers of the Illinois House of Representatives
Category:Politicians from Chicago
Category:Democratic Party (United States) politicians
Category:Criminals from Chicago