Updates:

4:55 p.m.: Senators have taken the floor and sources expect Sen. Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, to be named the next Senate president after a compromise deal was made with Sen. Kimberly Lightford. Details from the floor should be available shortly.

3:28 p.m.: Sen. Emil Jones III, D-Chicago, speaks to reporters outside of the Senate chamber and reiterates his support for

Sen. Don Harmon.

Jones, the son of former Senate President Emil Jones Jr., said “as Democrats we will come together.”

He said he believed it was time for a woman to lead the chamber, but since Sen. Kimberly Lightford, D-Maywood, couldn’t gather the support, he will vote what he believes is best for hs district.

He said he hopes things will wrap up in the next hour or so.

2:20 p.m.: There was still no word of a second ballot vote from Senate Democrats as discussions continue behind closed doors.

12:30 p.m.: Sources tell Capitol News Illinois the first secret ballot resulted in a 22-17 advantage for Harmon, short of the 30 votes necessary for his election.

The source says the senators are taking a brief break to congregate in smaller groups ahead of the next ballot.

Democrats caucus

Democratic state senators went into a private caucus shortly after 11 a.m. to discuss their choices for the next Illinois Senate president Sunday.

Access to the third-floor offices at the Capitol, where the private caucus was taking place in the Senate president’s office, was blocked off to the public and news media. First-floor offices that provide access to stairwells leading to the third floor were locked as well.

Gov. JB Pritzker is scheduled to preside over the Senate once it heads to the floor to take the official vote for Sen. John Cullerton’s replacement. The special session was scheduled for noon, but the private caucus could last much longer than the one hour allotted.

There are 40 Democrats and 19 Republicans in the chamber, and a combination of votes from 30 of those senators is needed to elect the president.

Normally, the majority party decides its candidate for president in the private caucus and records a unified, unanimous vote from its party for the president on the Senate floor.

The leading candidates are Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, and Kimberly Lightford, D-Maywood, although another candidate could emerge if neither Harmon nor Lightford gets the necessary backing from the caucus.

This story will be updated.