Michael Madigan

Michael J. Madigan (born April 19, 1942) is the Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives and Chairman of the Democratic Party of Illinois. He is the longest-serving Speaker in state history, having held the position for all but two years since 1983. He has been a member of the Illinois House since 1971, representing the 22nd District, a majority Hispanic area surrounding Midway Airport in Chicago's Southwest Side.

Chicago Magazine named Madigan the fourth-most-powerful Chicagoan in 2012 and second in 2013 and 2014, calling him "the Velvet Hammer—a.k.a. the Real Governor of Illinois." Rich Miller, editor of the Capitol Fax Illinois political newsletter, wrote "the pile of political corpses outside Madigan's Statehouse door of those who tried to beat him one way or another is a mile high and a mile wide."

Early life and career

Chicago's 13th Ward surrounds Chicago Midway International Airport and includes the Clearing neighborhood on Chicago's Southwest Side. In the 1980 United States Census, the population of the 13th Ward was 61,249, 95.58% of whom were White and 57 (0.09%) of whom were African American.