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Illinois State Sen. Bill Brady Becomes New Minority Leader

Illinois State Senator Bill Brady formally became the Illinois Senate Republican leader Tuesday. He's been acting as minority leader since Sen. Christine Radogno resigned at the end of June.

Yesterday, after passing the education funding overhaul, the Senate finally voted to make it official. Brady leads the smallest caucus in the General Assembly, and Democrats have a veto-proof majority in the Senate.

“What a great honor to have this today," he said. "It’s a great honor to have my caucus entrust in me the responsibilities that this position holds, and for that I will ever be humbled and grateful.”

He was the Republican Party nominee for governor in 2010, when he lost to incumbent Pat Quinn. Brady ran again four years later but lost the Republican nomination to current Gov. Bruce Rauner. Since then, Brady has become one of Rauner’s top allies in the General Assembly.

Brian Mackey formerly reported on state government and politics for NPR Illinois and a dozen other public radio stations across the state. Before that, he was A&E editor at The State Journal-Register and Statehouse bureau chief for the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin.