State Rep. Marti Deuter did not join 26 fellow Democrats who signed a no-confidence letter that forced Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch out of power.

Deuter, a Democrat whose District 45 includes parts of Hinsdale, Clarendon Hills and Westmont, has not publicly commented on the letter or on the sexual harassment scandal that fueled the rebellion, Patch reported Monday, Nov. 9. Patch reported that Deuter did not return the outlet's messages over the summer when it sought her views on the controversy.

The financial ties between Deuter and Welch are substantial. In 2024, the Democrats for the Illinois House committee, chaired by Welch, contributed $1.4 million to Deuter's successful campaign against Republican Dennis Reboletti, according to Patch. The state Democratic Party added another $300,000.

Deuter won re-election Nov. 3 with 62 percent of the vote, defeating Republican Gina Parrilli 25,399 to 15,579, according to unofficial results. In the final weeks of the 2026 campaign, Deuter drew about $100,000 from the Democratic Party, while Parrilli reported no such contributions from her party.

What happened in Springfield

The 26 Democrats released their no-confidence statement Wednesday, Nov. 4, one day after unofficial results showed Democrats expanded their supermajority in the 118-member chamber. Nineteen of the 26 signers were women, according to WAND. Four were members of Welch's own leadership team, including Democratic Party of Illinois Chair Lisa Hernandez of Cicero.

Welch announced Thursday, Nov. 5, that he would not seek another term as speaker. He had held the post for six years.

The rebellion stemmed from Welch's handling of sexual harassment allegations against former state Rep. Harry Benton, a Plainfield Democrat. Some Democratic House members alleged that Welch's lack of action allowed Benton's alleged harassment of others, according to Patch.

The Chicago Tribune reported that Welch's office knew since April 2023 that a young female staffer in Benton's district office had accused the lawmaker of sexual harassment. The office did not raise the allegations with Benton until three months later. Benton resigned July 3 after a legislative inspector general found he had broken state law and engaged in a "pattern and practice" of sexual harassment, according to the Tribune.

Deuter's ethics stance

In a September election questionnaire published by Shaw Local, Deuter listed "Ethics and Transparency" as one of her top three priorities. She said she had filed legislation during her first year in the General Assembly that would give subpoena power to the legislative inspector general, add a public member to the Legislative Ethics Commission and require every founded report be released to the public.

Deuter, a former Elmhurst alderman, has served as the District 45 state representative since 2024.

State Rep. Fred Crespo of Hoffman Estates, who signed the no-confidence letter, told the Forest Park Review on Nov. 5 that he had spoken with House colleagues who did not sign. "They feel the same way (as the signers)," Crespo said. "They have their reasons why they don't want to come out yet."

The House Democratic caucus is expected to choose its next leader during veto session, scheduled for Nov. 17 to 19 and Dec. 1 to 3.