Democrats meeting June 5 to choose Walker’s replacement in House

Northwest suburban Democratic Party leaders will meet in Mount Prospect on June 5 to select a person to fill the Illinois House seat left open when state Rep. Mark Walker was appointed to the state Senate.

Walker, an Arlington Heights Democrat who had held the 53rd District seat since 2019, was chosen by the same group Sunday to fill former Illinois Sen. Ann Gillespie’s 27th District seat.

Gillespie, also a Democrat from Arlington Heights, resigned from the senate in April to become the director of the Illinois Department of Insurance.

Choosing Walker’s replacement will be a panel consisting of Elk Grove Township Democratic Committeeperson Ted Mason; Walker, in his role as Wheeling Township Democratic committeeperson; Palatine Township Democratic Committeeperson Maria Galo; state Sen. Laura Murphy, in her role as Maine Township Democratic committeeperson; and Schaumburg Township Democratic Committeeperson Mike Cudzik.

Those who would like to apply for the post should send a resume and cover letter to ilrepdistrict53opening@gmail.com by 10 p.m. Tuesday, May 28.

To be eligible, one must be a U.S. citizen who is at least 21 years old and has lived in the 53rd District for at least the last two years. The appointee must also be a Democrat.

The panel will meet at 6 p.m. June 5, in Room 154, Meeting Room A of the Mount Prospect Library, 10 S. Emerson St. To RSVP to attend, email ElkGroveTownshipDemocrats@gmail.com.

The 53rd House District includes portions of Arlington Heights, Mount Prospect, Rolling Meadows, Schaumburg and Elk Grove Village.

In the meantime, Walker’s chief of staff said in an email Monday that the former state representative intends to run for the 27th District Senate seat in November. There are currently no other announced candidates for the seat.