Democrats in the 97^th House District have until August 20 when the Will County Clerk finalizes ballots for the November 3 election to find a replacement for incumbent Harry Benton of Plainfield.

Benton issued a resignation letter July 3 to Illinois House Speaker Emmanuel “Chris” Welch. Welch, D-Westchester, had called for Benton to resign after receiving a report from the Legislative Inspector General’s Office.

Welch’s demand came five months after he kicked Benton out of the Democratic caucus and stripped him of his committee assignments with no public explanation. Capitol News Illinois later confirmed that allegations of sexual harassment were made against Benton, a two-term legislator who represents a southwest suburban Chicago swing district, and that the matter had been referred to the Legislative Inspector General’s office.

“The Legislative Inspector General’s findings reveal clear patterns of conduct by Representative Benton that are outrageous, unethical, and unbecoming of a member of the Illinois House of Representatives,” Welch said in a statement, adding that Benton’s exile from the caucus — at LIG Mike McCuskey’s recommendation — “will remain in place permanently.”

Welch told reporters when pressed in April and again in his statement on July 1 that he refrained from commenting on the allegations “to protect the privacy of those who came forward, preserve the integrity of the investigation, respect due process, and comply with the guidance and legal requirements established in our ethics procedures.”

Had Benton not resigned, Welch threatened to have him expelled from the Legislature. That process would have taken weeks, even if the Legislature, which doesn’t reconvene until November, held a special session.

Benton, who continued to show up for work in the Capitol throughout the spring, has so far not commented publicly on the issue or his resignation, including a request from Farmers Weekly Review.

Benton ran against incumbent Republican Mark Batinick in 2020 and lost. He first was elected in 2022 when he defeated Republican Michelle Smith and was re-elected in 2024 when he edged Republican challenger Gabby Shannahan.

Unopposed in the primary, Benton was to again face Shannahan in November.

Shannahan did not call for Benton to resign or drop out, but noted in a statement before his resignation that voters have “a better choice” in November.

“I’ll always be honest,” she said. “I’ll always put the people of this district first. And I’ll show up every single day to work for lower taxes, safer communities, and a government worthy of your trust.”

She was more strident in her response following Benton’s resignation:

“The need for honesty, integrity, and transparency did not begin with Harry Benton, and it does not end with his resignation. For too long, too many politicians have put themselves ahead of the people. That is why so many people have lost trust in government.

“For 126 days, families here were left without the representation they deserved. Questions went unanswered. Transparency was missing. And the political class stayed silent.

“At the same time, families struggle with high property taxes, rising costs, and the same failed politics that have made life harder.

“Our district deserved a representative fully able to serve them. They did not get it. Too many people in power acted like it didn’t matter. I know it does.

“Accountability is not just a press release. It is not months of silence followed by a Friday afternoon announcement before a holiday weekend. Accountability is a promise you make to the people you serve every single day. …”

Will County Democratic Party Chair Billy Morgan, who had issued a press release July 3 saying Benton should resign, announced a call to Democrats in the 97^th District interested in the appointment to submit their names by 5 p.m. Monday, July 13.

Those interested must be at least 21 years old and have lived in the 97^th District for at least two years.

Candidates will be considered by Democratic leaders in Will and Kendall counties, with the chair of the Will County Democratic Party, Morgan, holding the bulk of the weighted vote.

 

Capitol News Service and Farmers Weekly Review Editor Nick Reiher contributed to this story.