Illinois Senate Republicans are choosing State Senator Bill Brady of Bloomington as their new leader. Senator Brady will replace current leader Chistine Radogno, who announced this week that she is stepping down. He begins the position in the midst of a long running budget stalemate.
Brady has been serving in the Illinois Senate since 2002, and served in the House before that. Brady has also been a candidate for Governor, falling to Pat Quinn in the Gubernatorial race in 2010 and falling in the primary in 2014. Brady is now the only legislative leader from outside the Chicago area, becoming the first leader since Frank Watson to be from outside Chicago.