SPRINGFIELD - Despite a gruesome loss of eight Republican House seats in the 2012 election, GOP caucus members unanimously re-elected Tom Cross (R-Plainfield) to be House Republican Leader during the upcoming 98th General Assembly. Going into the 2012 election, Republicans were six seats short of attaining majority status for the first time since 1994. In January, House Democrats will hold a "super" majority, leaving House Republicans with 46 votes.
Among those current House members not returning in 2013 will be four of the House's most liberal-voting Republicans: Sandy Cole, Sid Mathias, Rosemary Mulligan and Cross' political lieutenant Skip Saviano. Three other Republican House members not returning were elected into the Senate: Jason Barickman, Mike Connelly and Chapin Rose. Senator Ron Sandack will move to the House. Other changes include Rep. Ken Gaffney will be replaced by David McSweeney of South Barrington. Jeanne Ives will represent a new western DuPage County district.
