Tuesday marked five years since suburban Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch ascended to the top of ballots for House Democrats in a drawn out, contentious battle to oust then-Speaker Michael Madigan.

On a cold day at the downtown BOS Center, where lawmakers had shifted session due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Welch spoke to reporters, many of whom didn’t know him and simply said “I go by Chris.”

Welch has transformed the speakership from a top-down effort led by Madigan, the institution who spent all but two years as Speaker of the House from 1983-2021, to a much more outsourced caucus, using his top lieutenants to form “working groups” and to negotiate tough legislative issues for his members.

In a statement Tuesday, Welch took aim at the administration of President Donald Trump to highlight the focus of his term in office.

“In this moment unlike any other, people across Illinois have looked to the state to take charge of what we can control. And we’ve spoken clearly. Our rights are inalienable, not subject to the whim of politicians,” he said. “Affordability is a promise, not a hoax. Our budgets will responsibly meet the needs of students, seniors, and working families, not recklessly cut taxes for billionaires. And our future is ours to shape together. There’s more work to be done, and I’m so proud to make that work my priority every day.”

Welch’s term so far has received praise from many of his former colleagues.

“He’s doing a wonderful job,” said former Rep. John Bradley.

“Speaker Welch has done an outstanding job,” said former Rep. LaToya Greenwood.

“I think he’s done a really great job,” former Rep. Mike Zalewski told me on the radio yesterday.

Former colleagues praised his leadership style.

“Under his leadership, the House has enacted policies that continue to move Illinois in the right direction,” said Greenwood, who served with Welch in the House from 2017-2023. “I wish him continued success.”

“I think he has exhibited a leadership style different than his predecessor,” Zalewski said. The two served in the House together from 2013-2023. “He has a very large caucus that has disparate views and he’s done the very best he can to make changes while, at the same time, adding some stability.”

“It was truly a pleasure to serve him before he became Speaker of the House,” said former Rep. Litesa Wallace, who served with Welch from 2014-2019. “I’m grateful for his steady, values-driven commitment to servant leadership.”

Not all reactions from former colleagues was glowing. One former Democrat lawmaker, who asked not to be named, criticized Welch for engineering primary campaigns against two sitting members, Rep. Mary Flowers and Rep. Cyril Nichols in 2024 and stripping Rep. Fred Crespo (D-Hoffman Estates) of his caucus membership after Crespo presented a list of potential budget cuts last year.

“He has let the inmates run the asylum,” the former lawmaker quipped, alleging Welch is cutting out moderate members and giving too much power to the more progressive wing of the party.

You can watch our interview with Welch the morning after the conclusion of the fall veto session in October here.