Illinois People: Why Hasn't Mike Madigan Tried for Higher Office?

[Free Bird]

Mike Madigan is the undisputed kingpin of Illinois politics. His power for a State House Speaker is freakish. I'm curious why he never tried for a US Senate seat or for the Governorship in his prime. If he wanted it, he could have it, and that could make way for even more power. Does anyone here from Illinois know why?

[Pessimistic Antineutrino]

You said it yourself. Leaving the speakership, even for a higher office, could only lessen the power he currently has.

[Free Bird]

You said it yourself. Leaving the speakership, even for a higher office, could only lessen the power he currently has.

True now, but why not in like the 90s when he wasn't an absolute juggernaut? For such a megalomaniac on a small scale, he certainly has had to have at least thought about it, so I'm wondering why he decided to stay Speaker instead of trying to be, I don't know, Senate Majority Leader or dare I say, President?

[Rjjr77]

You said it yourself. Leaving the speakership, even for a higher office, could only lessen the power he currently has.

True now, but why not in like the 90s when he wasn't an absolute juggernaut? For such a megalomaniac on a small scale, he certainly has had to have at least thought about it, so I'm wondering why he decided to stay Speaker instead of trying to be, I don't know, Senate Majority Leader or dare I say, President?

He's always been a juggernaut. The guys controlled Springfield since 1983

He even forces the university of Illinois into accepting applicants backed by him.

[Jeppe]

Probably because the stench around him would make it fairly hard to win a statewide general election.

[Rjjr77]

Also speaker is way more powerful than senate majority leader

[Green Line]

Mike Madigan would not win a general election in Illinois, much less "have it if he wanted it".  He is hated outside of his lil fiefdom.  Having political power in the Legislature does not translate into electoral popularity.

[Donerail]

You said it yourself. Leaving the speakership, even for a higher office, could only lessen the power he currently has.

True now, but why not in like the 90s when he wasn't an absolute juggernaut? For such a megalomaniac on a small scale, he certainly has had to have at least thought about it, so I'm wondering why he decided to stay Speaker instead of trying to be, I don't know, Senate Majority Leader or dare I say, President?

Why would he give up the certainty of absolute power in Springfield for the US Senate, where he would only be one of a hundred Senators? Working his way up the Senate hierarchy to Majority Leader is no sure thing, especially since it also relies on his party (and him!) consistently winning elections to keep him in the spot.

Compare that to his current situation: he will always be comfortably re-elected (which wouldn't be true if he were Senator or Governor—as Green Line mentioned, he's deeply unpopular outside of his district), he will always retain the job of Speaker (nobody would be foolish enough to try to challenge him), and Illinois will always elect enough Democrats to the House to keep him in power.

[Rjjr77]

You said it yourself. Leaving the speakership, even for a higher office, could only lessen the power he currently has.

True now, but why not in like the 90s when he wasn't an absolute juggernaut? For such a megalomaniac on a small scale, he certainly has had to have at least thought about it, so I'm wondering why he decided to stay Speaker instead of trying to be, I don't know, Senate Majority Leader or dare I say, President?

Why would he give up the certainty of absolute power in Springfield for the US Senate, where he would only be one of a hundred Senators? Working his way up the Senate hierarchy to Majority Leader is no sure thing, especially since it also relies on his party (and him!) consistently winning elections to keep him in the spot.

Compare that to his current situation: he will always be comfortably re-elected (which wouldn't be true if he were Senator or Governor—as Green Line mentioned, he's deeply unpopular outside of his district), he will always retain the job of Speaker (nobody would be foolish enough to try to challenge him), and Illinois will always elect enough Democrats to the House to keep him in power.

Except for two blissful years in the 1990s.

[andrew_c]

There's no reason for him to seek higher office because he is essentially the de facto governor.

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

He's too old and Lisa Madigan was the voters choice, but she hasn't run for anything other than AG.

[PAK Man]

He's too old and Lisa Madigan was the voters choice, but she hasn't run for anything other than AG.

I think she's waiting for him to retire before she seeks higher office. That's the rumor, anyway.

[Suburbia]

There's no reason for him to seek higher office because he is essentially the de facto governor.

[Suburbia]

I like Speaker Madigan's style sometimes, it's brash, but I think he has the stench of corruption.

[Rjjr77]

I like Speaker Madigan's style sometimes, it's brash, but I think he has the stench of corruption.

If you honestly like him you don't know anything about him, he's a corrupt thug who holds the state hostage. He's literally the only person in politics that made people think Blagojevich was reasonable.

[Suburbia]

I like Speaker Madigan's style sometimes, it's brash, but I think he has the stench of corruption.

If you honestly like him you don't know anything about him, he's a corrupt thug who holds the state hostage. He's literally the only person in politics that made people think Blagojevich was reasonable.

Did Madigan and Blagojevich get along?

[Rjjr77]

I like Speaker Madigan's style sometimes, it's brash, but I think he has the stench of corruption.

If you honestly like him you don't know anything about him, he's a corrupt thug who holds the state hostage. He's literally the only person in politics that made people think Blagojevich was reasonable.

Did Madigan and Blagojevich get along?

No, they hated each other.

[muon2]

I like Speaker Madigan's style sometimes, it's brash, but I think he has the stench of corruption.

If you honestly like him you don't know anything about him, he's a corrupt thug who holds the state hostage. He's literally the only person in politics that made people think Blagojevich was reasonable.

Did Madigan and Blagojevich get along?

No, they hated each other.

True, yet Madigan chaired Blago's reelection campaign in 2006. He's a very savvy politician.