Interoffice Memorandum
January 10, 2025 to: Members and Staff of the House Democratic Caucus
from: Emanuel ‘Chris’ Welch, Speaker of the House
re: House Democratic Caucus Leadership – 104th General Assembly
As we prepare for the work of the 104th General Assembly, I am excited to announce a dynamic leadership team that will work beside each of us and lead the way forward. This team is comprised of both veteran public servants and new leaders. They reflect our diversity and will work alongside me as we foster unity and address new challenges as well as legacy challenges. These leaders are positioned to bring their strengths to bear for the benefit of our Caucus and the people of Illinois.
Our leadership team will consist of:
| Robyn Gabel | Majority Leader |
| Kam Buckner | Speaker Pro-Tempore and Co-Budgeteer |
| Robert ‘Bob’ Rita | Deputy Majority Leader |
| Elizabeth ‘Lisa’ Hernandez | Deputy Majority Leader |
| Jay C. Hoffman | Assistant Majority Leader |
| Jehan Gordon-Booth | Assistant Majority Leader |
| Camille Lilly | Assistant Majority Leader |
| Eva-Dina Delgado | Assistant Majority Leader and Co-Budgeteer |
| Dagmara ‘Dee’ Avelar | Assistant Majority Leader |
| Theresa Mah | Majority Conference Chair |
| Nicholas Smith | Majority Officer/Sergeant at Arms |
| Ann Williams | Assistant Majority Leader* |
| Marcus C. Evans, Jr. | Assistant Majority Leader* |
| Will Guzzardi | Assistant Majority Leader and Co-Budgeteer* |
| Curtis J. Tarver II | Assistant Majority Leader* |
| Maurice West II | Assistant Majority Leader* |
| Katie Stuart | Assistant Majority Leader and Floor Whip* |
| Bob Morgan | Assistant Majority Leader and Floor Whip* |
| Edgar Gonzalez, Jr. | Assistant Majority Leader and Floor Whip* |
I hope you will join me in welcoming the new members of our leadership team: Leaders Delgado, Avelar, Williams, Tarver, West, Guzzardi, Stuart, Morgan, and Gonzalez. While they are new to our leadership team, their talent, hard work, and dedication to collaboration has shown them as proven leaders within our Caucus.
*Denotes non-stipend leadership position.
Additionally, the subcaucuses have chosen a group of emerging leaders who will play a role in my leadership team:
| Janet Yang Rohr | Asian Caucus Chair |
| Justin Slaughter | Black Caucus Chair |
| Norma Hernandez | Latinx Caucus Chair |
| Terra Costa Howard | Moderate Caucus Chair |
The Women’s Caucus Chair and Progressive Caucus Chair will be determined next week.
We have much work to do for the people of this state and I am proud to stand alongside these outstanding leaders, as well as the rest of our Caucus, to continue down the path of progress and purpose for all of Illinois.
I will be calling members who are eligible to serve as committee chairs this weekend. Please answer your phones so this process can be completed as expeditiously as possible.