Elmhurst's Deuter Didn't Join House Rebellion Against Speaker

ELMHURST, IL – Elmhurst's state representative, Marti Deuter, did not join 26 Democratic colleagues in a letter last week expressing no confidence in House Speaker Chris Welch, a Hillside Democrat.

The letter was released Thursday. That night, Welch, who has served at the helm for six years, announced he wouldn't run for another term.

Deuter, a first-term Democrat, has been publicly silent about the scandal surrounding Welch's handling of sexual harassment complaints about another lawmaker. She did not return Patch's messages during the summer.

Her District 45 includes Elmhurst and parts of Hinsdale, Clarendon Hills and Westmont, among other towns.

In 2024, Welch's political committee donated $1.4 million to Deuter's successful campaign against Republican Dennis Reboletti. She cruised to victory last Tuesday against a poorly funded Republican opponent, Gina Parrilli.

Some Democratic House members have questioned Welch's response to sexual harassment allegations against former state Rep. Harry Benton, a Plainfield Democrat. They have alleged that Welch's lack of action allowed Benton's alleged harassment of others.

Deuter is a former Elmhurst alderman.