By Greg Hinz, Crain’s Chicago Business
The No. 2 Democrat in the Illinois House is calling it quits.
In an announcement being made today to the House Democratic Caucus, Majority Leader Greg Harris, the author of the state’s same-sex marriage law, is disclosing that he will not seek re-election in 2022. The North Side lawmaker, first elected in 2006, will complete his current term.
“I’m making this announcement now so people considering running for office have time to think and prepare,” Harris said in a statement. “There is much more to accomplish and we have a young diverse group of leaders who are read to take the reins and lead. It’s time to give them the opportunity to do so.”
In a phone interview Sunday afternoon, Harris, 66, said there is no back story behind his departure and there was no pressure to leave, merely a realization that “It was time.”
A journalist by training and an openly gay man, Harris might have seemed to be an odd choice to become the top legislative lieutenant to Chicago Machine-product Mike Madigan after then-Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie, like Harris a member of the party’s liberal wing, announced her retirement in 2018.
Harris said he accepted because, “It was an honor to serve,”—and because holding the position gave him more power to advance causes such as LGBTQ rights, freedom of choice on abortion and fighting climate change.
Madigan may have been a socially conservative Southwest Sider, but “he evolved” on issues such as gay rights, Harris said. The former speaker “was always keeping his finger on the pulse of every segment of our caucus.”
Harris not only lasted through the politically rough final years of Madigan’s reign without tarnishing his reputation or being caught in continuing legal probes into the former speaker, he was held over as majority leader by Madigan’s successor Emanuel “Chris” Welch.
Harris’ forte has been budgets and fiscal matters. But as the highest-ranking openly gay person ever to have served in state government, he says his proudest accomplishment was serving as chief sponsor of the bill allowing same-sex marriage in the state, an action that came years before the U.S. Supreme Court mandated that nationally.
Harris also lists as top accomplishments helping break the budget impasse in which former Gov. Bruce Rauner tried to slash state spending on social programs, something Rauner said was needed but Democrats bitterly opposed.
Harris got his start as chief of staff to Ald. Mary Ann Smith, 48th. There was no immediate word on who might succeed him in Springfield or as majority leader.