Welch, House Democrats raise $35 million, defend incumbent seats, flip at least four Republican-held districts, and strengthen their historic supermajority in the Illinois House

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., Nov. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch and Democrats for the Illinois House (DIH) are celebrating a historic election night victory, securing at least four additional seats and once again creating the largest Democratic supermajority in the Illinois House in modern history.

The House Democratic landslide makes Welch the winningest Speaker in Illinois history. The Democratic majority is the largest in modern history, surpassing the 78-member majority Welch created in 2022. House Democrats raised $35 million to support their campaign efforts, protected Democratic incumbents, and successfully flipped four Republican-held seats, further solidifying the caucus's position as one of the strongest Democratic legislative majorities in the nation.

While holding all 78 Democratic incumbent seats, Welch and House Democrats flipped new seats in formerly safe Republican territory. The hard work of local candidates and stakeholder partnerships led to victories for Erica Bray Parker, Ricky Rivard, Maria Peterson, and Amanda Zahorak–with additional races still too close to call.

"This victory is a testament to the strength of our members, the dedication of our campaigns, and the voters who continue to place their trust in House Democrats," said Speaker Welch. "We set out to protect our incumbents, expand our majority, and make sure members had the resources necessary to compete and win. Tonight, we delivered on that promise. Our historic supermajority is not just a reflection of electoral success. It is a mandate to continue delivering meaningful results for the people of Illinois."

The election night victories mark another significant milestone in Speaker Welch's historic tenure. Since assuming leadership, Welch has championed transformative investments in public education, strengthened protections for working families, advanced critical infrastructure and transit legislation, and continued to position Illinois as a national leader in progressive policymaking.

The $35 million fundraising operation represents a major investment in protecting and growing the House Democratic majority. Through a coordinated strategy that prioritized competitive districts, robust voter contact programs, targeted communications, and aggressive voter turnout efforts, Democrats for the Illinois House built an operation capable of competing across the state.

Beyond the electoral gains, the results underscore the continued confidence Illinois voters have placed in the House Democratic agenda, including historic investments in education, protecting reproductive freedoms, expanding access to health care, strengthening workers' rights, and providing economic relief to working families.

"As we celebrate tonight's victories, we also recognize the responsibility that comes with them," Welch continued. "The people of Illinois expect us to govern, to lead, and to deliver. We will continue doing exactly that. Our majority is stronger, our caucus is growing, and our commitment to building a better Illinois has never been greater."

With four additional seats secured, House Democrats enter the next General Assembly with an expanded supermajority and renewed momentum to advance policies that put Illinois families first.

About Democrats for the Illinois House

Democrats for the Illinois House (DIH) is the political organization dedicated to electing and supporting Democratic members of the Illinois House of Representatives. Under the leadership of Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch, DIH works to protect Democratic incumbents, recruit and elect new members, and build strong campaign operations across Illinois.

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SOURCE Democrats for the Illinois House