Democratic state lawmakers start to move on promise to ‘be a check’ on Donald Trump

Almost immediately after President Donald Trump was elected to a second term in November, Illinois Democrats began stressing the need to provide legislative protections against potential action by the White House on issues such as immigration and abortion.

“We’re going to be a check on Donald Trump. As a state, we have rights. And we did it in his first term and we’ll do it again,” said House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch.

With six weeks left in the spring legislative session, lawmakers have a range of measures before them that backers say are necessary to protect Illinois’ progressive policies.

Photo credit: House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch speaks with state Rep. Dagmara Avelar, left, as he departs the floor after Gov. JB Pritzker delivered his annual State of the State address on Feb. 19, 2025, at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)